2014 Distinguished Alumni

Sgt. Derek Ray Johnson (Posthumous Award)

Draper City Police Department
Law Enforcement Academy Session 043 - 2004

Derek Ray Johnson loved being a Draper City police officer. But on September 1, 2013 he was killed in the line of duty. He was only 32. Johnson left behind his wife, Shante, and their son, Bensen.

As a police officer Johnson received the Life Saving and Distinguished Service awards, and he was the 2012 Community Policing Officer of the Year. According to his obituary, he loved hunting, running, hiking and serving others. News reports stated that Johnson wanted to be a police officer since the sixth grade and that he was an Explorer Scout for the Sandy City Police Department while at Alta High School, from where he graduated in 1999. He started out as a police dispatcher before enrolling in the police academy at Salt Lake Community College.

Johnson worked for the Draper Police Department for eight years. The Utah Legislature honored Johnson last February, the day after the funeral for fellow police academy alum Sgt. Cory Wride. In November 2013 family and friends of Johnson held a 5k run in his honor and to raise funds for the 10-33 Foundation.