Rodney Joseph Johnson
Rodney Joseph Johnson (born October 24, 1965 - September 21, 2006) was a decorated Houston Police officer who served 14 years with the agency prior to his death in the line of duty on September 21, 2006. Johnson's death remains as a significant line of duty incident with regards to criminal illegal immigrants and the need for reform of immigration policy.[1][2][3][4]
Contents
Early life
Rodney Johnson was born on October 25, 1965 to David E. Johnson and Cynthia Johnson in Houston, Texas. At age 14, Johnson moved to Oakland, California and attended school at Oakland Technical High School and graduated in 1984. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served six years.
Law enforcement history
Johnson served as military policeman in the U.S. Army and a corrections officer with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice prior to joining the Houston Police Department in 1994. He was awarded two Lifesaving Awards from the Houston Police Department and the Medal of Valor from the state of Texas for his work in the Southeast Gang Task Force. After serving the Southeast Gang Task Force, he was then transferred to the Traffic Division, where he loved working until his death. His wife, Joslyn Johnson is also a Houston Police Sergeant.
Line of duty death
On September 21, 2006, Officer Rodney Johnson spotted a speeding vehicle doing 50 MPH in 30 MPH zone on Randolph Street near Braniff, near William P. Hobby Airport southeast of downtown. The speeding vehicle was a white Ford pickup truck operated by Juan Leonardo Quintero. Johnson pulled over Quintero for speeding and requested to see his driver's license. Quintero couldn't furnish a driver's license and Johnson decided to arrest him. Johnson handcuffed Quintero and performed a pat down search. After being handcuffed, Quintero was placed in the backseat of Johnson's police car. Johnson entered his patrol car and started writing a police report. While Johnson was writing a police report, Juan Quintero managed to move his handcuffed hands in front of him, pulled out a concealed 9mm caliber handgun from his waistband through thick layers of clothing and shot Officer Rodney Johnson four times in the back of his head. Despite being fatally shot, Johnson was able to push an emergency button in his patrol car, which alerted officers of the situation. After Quintero shot Johnson, he then fired some shots which missed a tow truck driver who was near the scene. When officers arrived, they found Quintero, still in the backseat of the patrol car handcuffed with the gun. Quintero was placed in custody shortly afterwards.
Juan Leonardo Quintero
Juan Leonardo Quintero, 35, is an illegal alien with mental deficiencies caused by a childhood fall.[5] Quintero, having an extensive criminal record including sexual offenses, was deported in 1999 and returned illegally into the United States.[6] Quintero plead insanity and was sentenced to life in prison.[7]
Aftermath
Officer Rodney Johnson was buried on September 27, 2006. More than 4,000 people attended his funeral, including city officials, and law enforcement officers from around the county.[8] Donations of more than $87,000 were donated to the 100 Club, an organization for family members of fallen firefighters and police officers. His wife, Joslyn Johnson sued the Houston Police Department for not allowing a two-man patrol car.[9]
Quintero is currently sentenced to life in prison without parole and recently made an unsuccessful attempt to escape.[10]
Texas Governor Rick Perry awarded Officer Johnson with the Star of Texas Award given to fallen and injured first responders in addition to Bill SR912 honoring the slain officer.[11][12]
Harboring of illegal immigrants
Robert Lane Camp, the owner of a landscaping firm accused of harboring Quintero was arrested and plead guilty. Camp faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle in Houston said the prosecution of Camp serves to "demonstrate the consequences a U.S. citizen faces" by harboring, employing or helping an illegal immigrant enter the country.[13] "ICE, using our law enforcement authorities and working with the U.S. Attorney's Office, was able to bring this employer to justice," stated Robert Rutt, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Investigations. "This tragedy illustrates the hiring of illegal aliens is not a victimless crime. Too often those in the U.S. illegally are desperate to avoid law enforcement and take desperate actions which can turn tragic."[14][15]
References
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- ↑ Jurors sentence HPD officer's killer to life - Houston Chronicle
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