Beloved police officer dies after two decades of service in SC. ‘Never met a stranger’
A beloved police officer who served two decades in South Carolina died after a cancer diagnosis, officials said.
Capt. Larry “LJ” Johnson is remembered for making a mark on the Summerville Police Department and the surrounding community.
“Johnson is a man of God who is deeply loved and respected by all who knew him,” his department wrote Nov. 10 on Facebook. “He never met a stranger and was quick to bring a smile to anyone’s face.”
Johnson spent four years with the Medical University of South Carolina’s Department of Public Safety before joining the Summerville force in 2002. Over the next 20 years, he received “officer of the year” awards and rose up the ranks to become a commander in the department’s investigations division, officials said.
The department said Johnson helped to launch the The Dignity Project, which was designed to encourage police and residents to have difficult conversations.
“The men and women of the Summerville Police Department and our community members are all better people for having met our brother, LJ,” the police department wrote. “Please continue to pray for his family and our SPD family as we work through this difficult time.”
Johnson’s death was reported months after the loss of another man who had served on the Summerville force.
In August, the department announced the passing of Eddie Fleming, a former school resource officer. The 37-year-old, who had started a new job as a youth pastor, also died after he was diagnosed with cancer, McClatchy News reported.
Summerville is roughly 25 miles northwest of Charleston.
This story was originally published November 11, 2022 at 9:17 AM with the headline "Beloved police officer dies after two decades of service in SC. ‘Never met a stranger’."
