Rodney Joseph Johnson facts for kids

Rodney Joseph Johnson (born October 24, 1965 – died September 21, 2006) was a brave Houston Police officer. He worked for the police department for 14 years. Sadly, he died while on duty, serving his community. The person responsible for his death was later sentenced to life imprisonment in 2008.

Early Life and Military Service

Rodney Johnson was born in Houston, Texas, on October 25, 1965. His parents were David E. Johnson and Cynthia Johnson. When he was 14, Rodney moved to Oakland, California. He went to Oakland Technical High School and finished in 1984. After high school, he joined the U.S. Army. He served his country for six years.

A Career in Law Enforcement

Before joining the Houston Police Department, Rodney Johnson was a military policeman in the U.S. Army. He also worked as a corrections officer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. In 1994, he became a police officer with the Houston Police Department.

Rodney was a very dedicated officer. He received two Lifesaving Awards from the Houston Police Department. He also earned the Medal of Valor from the state of Texas. These awards recognized his important work with the Southeast Gang Task Force. Later, he moved to the Traffic Division. He really enjoyed his work there until his death. His wife, Joslyn Johnson, is also a Houston Police Sergeant.

A Tragic Day

On September 21, 2006, Officer Johnson was on duty. He saw a vehicle driving too fast on Randolph Street. The vehicle was a white Ford pickup truck. Juan Leonardo Quintero was driving it. Officer Johnson stopped the truck. He asked Quintero for his driver's license.

Quintero did not have a driver's license. So, Officer Johnson decided to arrest him. He put handcuffs on Quintero. Then, he checked him for anything dangerous. Quintero was placed in the back seat of Johnson's police car. Officer Johnson then got into his patrol car. He started writing a police report.

While Officer Johnson was writing, Quintero managed to move his hands. He pulled out a hidden gun. He then shot Officer Johnson. Even after being shot, Officer Johnson was able to push an emergency button. This button alerted other officers to the situation. When other officers arrived, they found Quintero still in the patrol car. He was handcuffed and had the gun. Quintero was taken into custody.

Remembering Officer Johnson

Officer Johnson was buried on September 27, 2006. Over 4,000 people came to his funeral. This included city leaders and police officers from many places. More than $87,000 was donated to the 100 Club. This organization helps families of police officers and firefighters who have died.

Texas Governor Rick Perry honored Officer Johnson. He gave him the Star of Texas Award. This award is given to first responders who are hurt or die while on duty. The Texas Senate also honored Officer Johnson with a special resolution.

Lawsuits by His Wife

Officer Johnson's wife, Joslyn Johnson, filed several lawsuits after his death. In 2008, she sued the Houston Police Department. She argued that the department should have used two-officer patrol cars. Most of this lawsuit was dismissed.

She also filed another lawsuit. This one challenged a policy of the City of Houston. She argued that the policy stopped officers from sharing immigration information. She felt this policy was wrong. In 2010, a federal court dismissed this lawsuit. However, in 2011, a higher court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, changed that decision. They said the cases were different enough to be heard.

The Person Responsible

Juan Leonardo Quintero was 35 years old. He was found to be the person who shot Officer Johnson. After the shooting, Quintero was quickly caught. He told the police what happened. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. However, the jury did not accept this defense. They found him guilty. In 2008, Quintero was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In 2010, Quintero was one of five prisoners. They tried to escape from a high-security prison. This prison is called the Allan B. Polunsky Unit in Livingston, Texas. Their escape attempt was not successful.

Employer's Conviction

In 2009, Robert Lane Camp pleaded guilty to a crime. He owned a landscaping business. He had employed Quintero and rented a home to him. Camp admitted to knowingly helping someone who was in the country illegally. In 2010, Camp was sentenced to three months in prison. He also had three months of home confinement. Plus, he received five years of probation.

A U.S. Attorney named Don DeGabrielle said this case showed the serious consequences. He said it showed what a U.S. citizen faces for helping someone enter or stay in the country illegally.