Vermont State Police, Vermont
End of Watch Sunday, June 15, 2003
Reflections for Sergeant Michael Walter Johnson
I never had the honor to work with Sgt. Johnson but from what I hear, I wish I could have. You dared do a job many people do not venture into. You kept us safe and you payed with your life. Not just the citizens of Vermont but yet all in this great country owe you and your family more than we will ever be able to give. May the Lord comfort you and watch over your family. JUSTICE WILL BE SWIFT AND SEVERE!
DISPATCHER
VERMONT STATE POLICE
We will miss you Mike. I will never forget the night our police team played basketball against Peoples Academy. That was the first time I really got to know you and the time together was all to brief. God Bless you & your family.
Ken Libby
Vermont Sheriffs' Association
May God bless Sgt. Johnson and his family. Your fellow Troopers thank you for your sacrifice. You and your family will always remain in our thoughts and prayers.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Trooper Johnson and his family. Eventhough I did not know him personally, it still hurts to loose a brother in law enforcement. I was almost killed on 6/5/03, when a fleeing suspect intentionally struck my patrol vehicle head on. I also grew up in Cambridge, Vt and knew of Trooper Johnson. If there is anything that I can do please let me know.
Officer Matthew Drew
Desert Hot Springs Police (Ca)
I would like to say that this is a tragic thing that has happend.
Even though I did not i feel the pian that this tragic insident has left upon the family of the deccesd .
sarent WilliamO'leary
border patrol
Rest in peace, brother and fellow Vermonter.
May God be with you!
SRA JEREMY JACKSON
US AIR FORCE SECURITY FORCES
You grew from the wonderful young boy that I babysat into an outstanding, heroic role model for everyone. You have set the bar. If each of us can bring one tenth of the joy, optimism and enthusiasm into our everyday lives that you did, it would be a wonderful world. My deepest, most heartfelf condolences to Kerrie, Reilly, Grady, and McKendrick. To Skip, Marilyn, Patti, Linda, Glenn, Matt, and Danny-my words could never express the depth of my sorrow on the loss of your son and brother. Mike left all of you with a lifetime of great memories and a legacy of goodness for all the world to remember.
Love, Aunt Maureen
maureen johnson
MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH SGT JOHNSON, HIS FAMILY AND ALL MY FRIENDS ON THE VERMONT STATE POLICE.
SGT JOHN M. RICHARDSON-RETIRED
MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE
To Kerrie,Reilly, Grady, Mick, and the whole Johnson Family,
I just wanted you to know that my heart is broken and I will never get over the fact that I was not able to be there for you at the funeral. Even though I was physically in N.J., my thoughts were with you. I keep seeing Mike's bright eyes and sweet smile and I just know that he is up in Heaven playing basketball and Sandy is on the sideline cheering him on. There is no way to comprehend this tragedy except to say that Heaven must have needed some cheering up.
Jodi Dixon
College Friend
My the Lord Jesus comfort your family, friends, and partners as we grieve the loss of not only a brother in law enforcement, but a husband, father, and friend. Psalm 91
Trooper Mike Lee
Michigan State Police
Please remember the fallen officers we have lost. Remember the men and women who died trying to make this world a safer and better place for us all to live in. Thank you Sergeant Johnson for a job well done. Please continue to watch over us and protect us as only you can. You will forever be at our side and in our hearts.
For those of you who still have loved ones with us please take the time to tell them how much you appreciate and care about them.
IF I KNEW
If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.
If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.
If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.
If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.
For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.
There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"
But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.
So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,
That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear
Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.
Anonymous
My deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Officer Johnson. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Linda Craig, widow of
Captain Tom Craig, Arkansas State Police, EOW 12-14-00
You will not be forgotten.
God bless you and your family.
Trooper Matthew Birmingham
Vermont State Police
Our prayers go out to you and your family. We know all too well the great loss that you feel. We will remember you and your family in our prayers. John 14:27
Mother of fallen MP Brian T. Gleason 8/9/00
Tammy Persin
Although I and many others would have liked to have been there for Mike's family on Friday,we were kept away by duty. The duty to find a missing elderly woman in Enosburg.
she was found, by dedicated hard work, something all agreed on that Mike would have insisted we continue our work.
It was the best tribute we could extend in his memory, continuing his legacy of dedicated service.
As they said when President Kennedy was assasinated;
The Torch is Passed...
Lt. Dan Begiebing
Vermont State Police- St. Albans
To the family of Officer Johnson, I send my deepest condolences. I know your loss is great and may God Bless and guide you through the upcoming days.
For you officers that are not listed here, THANK YOU for living your lives to ensure ours are safe. May God watch over you every time you put your uniform on.
Mario Moreno
Oceanside, CA
i will always remember you coach, you teached me alot and like and i will use it to get through it thanks and see you again
shane claflin
bradford, vermont
I find myself drawn...returning to this page.
You still are here. Your face greets me every time.
I reread the details, hoping for a new ending ...but none appears.
The reflections grow...I learn more about the father, husband, and trooper.
I knew you when you were starting your basketball reign.
I knew you would be great...I just didn't realize the magnitude of your greatness.
We were in the awkward years...trying to figure out life as a teen.
Now, fast-forward...your a MAN in uniform again, a husband and a father.
When I see you again...I wonder...has he changed?
A moment passes...no, he is still Mike the big kid.
Time is gone. We part again, hoping to meet up soon.
A few weeks pass...I see your face.
No smiles this time-only tears, as I read about your fate.
Gone are the hopes & dreams for future plans.
I see your children in my children's faces.
I cry to think what they will miss.
What kind of reward is this???
Those children should have their father from now to eternity.
Instead we grieve their loss.
I search for memories about you and wish I had known the MAN.
You've touched so many people.
Your life has been full, yet short.
You leave me with a new desire for greatness.
I promise I will try. "Essayons"
Friend
It is with great sorrow that one of our brothers has been killed in the line of duty. As a retired VSP member, any accident or death that occurs will also affect me since we are always brothers in the VSP. My sincere prayers and thoughts go to the family.
Retired Sgt David A. Wilson
Retired, Vermont State Police
To the family and friends of Sergeant Michael Johnson.
I am the mother of a Vermont State Trooper and can only express the deepest sympathy I feel for your loss. My son was a friend of this gentleman as well as a brother trooper. I can only think of your grief as it would effect me if I were in this terrible situation. You have the love, support and prayers of everyone. One day you will have the smiles to go with the memories that only you share. God be with you and all who loved him.
Anonymous
Although I did not know you personally, you've touched my
life deeply. I too have family in the police force and just can't
imagine how painful losing you must be. All of us are just awe struck at the outpouring of love and support for your family and your brotherhood. Godspeed Sgt Johnson and Thank You
for all you've done.
Denise Choquette
Please accept our sincere sympathy over your loss. We didn't know him, but feel like we did. One never thinks that this will happen in Vermont, but indeed it did. Our prayers are with the family.
Sincerely, Gordon and Jo Ann Adams
LT. GORDON B. ADAMS
RETIRED VSP
To Family of Sgt. Mike Johnson: May the Lord watch over you and Bless you all now and always. My thoughts and prayers will be with you all.
Elaine
VSP Williston
Sgt. Johnson:
You were the first person that met me at the door that Sunday night in August of 1998, a week before I was to begin at the Bradford Barracks - my first duty assignment with the Vermont State Police. Your smile, your warm handshake and pat on the back, as well as your friendly, easy-going disposition let me know that I was welcome and a member of the "family".
I feel honored to have worked with you and to have called you my friend. However, I feel even more honored to have been called YOUR friend. Those "2115's" will never be the same!
You, and your legacy, will never been forgotten! Take care, friend. I'll see you when I see you! Rest in peace!
Det/Trooper Greg Campbell
VT STATE POLICE
My condolences to Mrs. Johnson and Sgt. Johnsons children. To have your dad and husband stolen from you on fathers day is a double tragedy. Rest assured the lord will provide for him and you and may the citizens of the state of Vermont never forget the sacrifice that he and his family have made.
Officer Dominic Delia
Vt. Technical College Dept. of safety and security
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