Johnson Honored by RI Attorney General

By Cynthia Drummond for BRVCA
January 24th 2024

PROVIDENCE – Richmond Police Chief Elwood Johnson was recently inducted into the 2023 Rhode Island Criminal Justice Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place on Jan. 18 at the office of Attorney General, Peter F. Neronha.

“Chief Johnson is a shining example of what it means to put others first,” Neronha said Wednesday. “Chief Johnson honorably served the Rhode Island State Police, the Richmond Police Department, and led the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association as a well-respected leader with a deep and unwavering commitment to the criminal justice community. Moreover, through his work with Special Olympics Rhode Island, Chief Johnson has fiercely advocated for tolerance and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities. We should all aspire to be more like Chief Johnson.”

Johnson, in his usual self-effacing way, recalled how he had learned of his induction from the Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.

“I was very surprised and humbled,” he said. “I got a call a week before Christmas from [Colonel] Darnell Weaver. I asked him ‘are you sure you’ve got the right guy?’”

The inductees were invited to bring up to 10 guests to the ceremony. Johnson invited his parents.

“It was a nice opportunity for my family, particularly my parents,” he said. “It wasn’t so much what they said. It was having other people remark on their son. That they were witness to it was really nice.”

Johnson credited the people he works with and also, the entire Richmond community, for his award.

Richmond Town Council President Mark Trimmer said the community loves him right back.

“Chief Johnson is truly a one of a kind, and I mean that in a positive way,” he said. “His professionalism and his desire to portray the town’s police department in the best light is commendable. He does an amazing job. This has been a long time coming, and I congratulate him for a well-deserved honor.”

Johnson credits his sister, Jenny, who passed away in 1995, with inspiring his continued involvement in the Rhode Island Special Olympics. Johnson serves on the organization’s Executive Board and started the annual “Super Plunge” more than 10 years ago to raise money to help athletes participate in events hosted by Special Olympics Rhode Island.

Jenny was born with developmental disabilities, and lived to be 25.

“For 25 years, this person, who couldn’t speak, used sign language, was the best teacher I ever had,” he said. “She’s why I am involved with Special Olympics.”

He then added,

“It’s difficult to talk about my sister. I think about her every day.”

In addition to Johnson, six Rhode Islanders were inducted:

Roosevelt Benton

William J. Ferland

Robert Lauro

Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch

Federal District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy

Colonel Russel S. Serpa