WHEREAS, San Jose Police Officer Michael “Mike” Jeremiah Johnson was born on December 4, 1976. At the time he was born, Mike’s father, Daniel Johnson, was a military police officer in the United States Army, who, after his discharge from the army, became a member of the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department, and Mike and his family moved to Wilseyville, California; and

WHEREAS, After his parents’ divorce, Mike and his mother, Katherine Decker, and his sister, Jamie Radack, moved to the City of San Jose in 1988, where Mike attended Gunderson High School and became captain of the school’s chess team. Mike’s first job was delivering newspapers on his bicycle for the San Jose Mercury News, and, after graduation from high school in 1995, Mike took classes at West Valley College while working as an audio-visual specialist at Radio Shack and later at The Good Guys electronics store. He began studying jujitsu, ultimately earning a black belt and becoming an instructor to children; and

WHEREAS, Mike’s ultimate goal and desire was to become a police officer and serve his community. Mike joined the San Jose Police Academy in 2001 and graduated on June 15, 2001. As a member of San Jose’s police force, Officer Johnson was a dedicated and highly regarded officer who had a strong sense of duty and great pride in being a police officer. He was beloved in the community because he always had a genuine smile and a natural ability to engage people in conversation; and

WHEREAS, On March 24, 2015, Officer Johnson and his partner, Doug Potwora, responded to an emergency call involving a suicidal man who was threatening his wife in a domestic violence dispute. When they arrived, the suspect, armed with a high-powered rifle, opened fire on the officers from behind an enclosed balcony. Tragically, the suspect fatally shot Officer Johnson. The suspect was later shot and killed by Officer Potwora, whose heroic efforts likely saved several more lives; and

WHEREAS, During his 14 years with the San Jose Police Department, Officer Johnson worked as a patrolman and court liaison. He also specialized in prescription drug fraud crimes and had recently been promoted to field training officer. Officer Johnson was a member of the Specialist Rifle Program and an expert marksman. He proved his skills each year when he and his father competed together at the United States Police and Fire Championships, where he won numerous medals. Officer Johnson will be inducted into the Police and Fire Championships’ Hall of Fame this year; and

WHEREAS, Officer Johnson is survived by his wife, Nicole, his parents, Daniel Johnson and Katherine Decker, his step parents Dann Decker and Penny Johnson, his grandmother, Frances Guillemin, and his sister, Jamie Radack; and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate to memorialize the service and sacrifice of Officer Johnson by designating a portion of State Highway Route 87 in the City of San Jose in his honor; now, therefore, be it