Elbert (Ed) (Butch) Johnson |
| Posted 2009-11-24 by Sharla |
| West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona April 27, 2007 Elbert "Ed" "Butch" Johnson, 67, of Goodyear died April 20, 2007. Mr. Johnson was born March 8, 1940, in Texarkana, Ark., to Clara and Walter Johnson. Mr. Johnson was raised in Richmond, Calif., and was in the first graduating class of Harry Ell's High School in 1958. He served in the Marine Corps and completed a tour of duty in the Vietnam War. In 1969, he started his career in law enforcement with the Contra Costa Sheriff's Office. As a deputy, he initiated and took on the project of standardizing the 870 Remington shotguns for patrol use, a project that involved officer safety for all patrolmen. In 1976, he contacted the FBI training facility in Quantico, Va., to establish the first SWAT team for the department. In the same year, while working in the coroner's office, he was commended for his handling of the Yuba city bus accident involving the death of 27 children. Mr. Johnson was assigned to Marine Patrol, where he wrote the county ordinance for marine safety enforcement that is still used by officers. In 1990, he was promoted to sergeant and worked assignments in investigation, fraudulent documents and detention. In 1994, he joined the Danville Police Department until his retirement in 1996. Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife, Elaine; one daughter, Jill Paris; three sons, Hank Rivera, and Larry and Donny Boyce; his step-mother, Alberta; one sister, Janis Thomas; and six grandchildren. A service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at PebbleCreek Eagle's Nest Clubhouse in Goodyear. Another service will be held at 3 p.m. May 12 at Deputy Sheriff's Association Hall, 1780 Muir Road in Martinez, Calif. Memorials may be sent to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014. Thompson's Valley West Funeral Chapel in Goodyear made the arrangements. |
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