 Born and raised in Port Arthur, Texas, Captain Roosevelt Johnson enlisted in the United States Navy just after graduating high school. After his four-year service, he joined the police academy, and was offered positions with the San Diego Police Department as well as the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.
His choice to work for the LASD has since turned into a lifelong career, bringing a wealth of experience to his new post. Captain Johnson’s first assignment, some 23 years ago, began with the graveyard shift at Pitchess Detention North Facility in Castaic. Just two weeks after being assigned to Pitchess, he decided to move to the Santa Clarita Valley. “It was one of the best moves,” states the Captain. “I liked what I saw out here, and thought it would be a perfect place to plant roots.”
During this time, Captain Johnson received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. “I initially wanted to get a law degree and become a federal prosecutor and ultimately a federal judge, but I liked the career field I was already in.” Captain Johnson later received his Masters of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Chapman University.
Captain Johnson’s career includes working at Century Station, West Hollywood, Custody Administration and the Training Bureau. In 2005, he was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to Lennox Station, Custody Operations Division headquarters-Chief’s Aide and Internal Affairs Bureau. “I worked directly for the chief, who was responsible for all eight jails,” states Captain Johnson. “It was an eye opening experience to see the magnitude of having to deal with not one, but eight jail facilities, which had close to 20,000 inmates and anywhere from four to five thousand personnel.” 
After a few years, Captain Johnson was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to North County Correctional Facility, Altadena Station and North Patrol Division headquarters –Executive Aide. “Working with Chiefs Neal Tyler and Jacques A. LaBerge was a great learning experience,” states the Captain. “I was able to see all of the patrol side from the headquarters level, and was able to assist in a lot of decisions that were made.”
Earlier this year, Captain Johnson made his return to the SCV and was named as Santa Clarita’s Police Chief, replacing Captain Becker.
Just 45 days on the job, the Captain took a moment to talk with me about his goals for the community and what he hopes to accomplish.
“The Crime Prevention Unit is a program brought by Captain Becker and is designed to split the SCV into eight zones, with a deputy assigned to each zone to interact with the community and communicate through social media, keeping the community engaged. I met with the zone leader deputies and planned to have a meet and greet in each zone. I don’t want the community to come to me, I want to go to the community.”
Along with pro-active police work and being an advocate of intervention programs, Captain Johnson also believes strongly in providing leadership opportunities to engage with the youth in our community. “I want to create a youth advisory council and reach out to high school age students, encouraging them to be a part of an advisory committee where I can communicate with them and they can communicate with the students at their respective schools, hoping to try and solve some of the issues in the community…The reality of it is, the youth are our future, and if we are not engaging our youth, we’re missing opportunities.”
Captain Johnson’s diverse career has put him in a prime position for a leadership role in our community and we welcome him back to the Santa Clarita Valley, but this time, as our Police Chief.
For more information, visit www.SantaClarita.lasd.org.
photos by Joie de vivre photographie
“We need to get out and be proactive in this community. Santa Clarita is known for being one of the safest communities in the country, and I don’t intend for that to change on my watch.” |
|
