Page 23 - December 2017

P traits by Peter Bucks
Tributes to officers from the CPD Officer, Lodge 7 member and renowned artist
n BY AMBER RAMUNDO
Let’s consider the evidence.
The man in question can be seen driving a Chevy pickup with a Yan- kees bumper sticker on his way to work in Area Central. He’s a plain- clothes cop who tells it like it is and loves what he does. And he’s seen it all, having witnessed more crime in his childhood than some officers chase their entire career.
The evidence points beyond rea- sonable doubt to Detective William (Wil) Johnson, the Chicago PD cop from the Bronx.
“It’s what I’m known for,” stated Johnson, who wears his Bronx up- bringing practically on the sleeve of his work clothes as part of the homicide team in the Area Central Detective Division.
To say Johnson grew up in a tough neighborhood is an under- statement. His early exposure to harsh crimes in the Bronx meant he became aware of police pres- ence at a young age.
“‘Of course you became a cop. That’s all you ever wanted to do,’” Johnson said his family often points out.
Even though it was high-profile
cases like the “Son of Sam” that
built Johnson’s depiction of law enforcement while growing up in 1970s New York City, the city of Chi-
cago is where his dream came to fruition.
He was first hired in 1994 as a corrections officer for the Cook County Sheriff’s Department. In 1997, at age 27, he joined the Chicago Police Department.
WILLIAM (WIL) JOHNSON Star# #20169
Instead of performing prelim- inary investigations, writing case reports and walking away from in- cidents, Johnson feels a new sense of purpose, taking on cases and in- vestigating them until completion.
“Being a detective for the past five years, it feels like I’ve been hired to a totally new job,” Johnson stated. “I get to chase the investiga- tions from beginning to end.”
Though detective work has elevated Johnson’s passion for law enforcement ever since he was a patrol officer, his adrenaline rush still comes from the chase.
“The excitement for a police offi- cer is a foot chase with a guy, jump- ing over fences to catch him,” he explained. “As a detective, it’s about following evidence, working on leads, identifying the offender and eventually putting him in a room for the interview and getting him to admit what he did.”
To Johnson, detective interview- ing is an art. Offenders seated at Johnson’s interrogation table aren’t sure what they’re up against when he enters the room offering a glass of water or a trip to the bathroom to make the suspect comfortable. He’s methodical and strategic in his approach to getting answers.
“I try to make it so they want to talk to me,” he described. “I will put you in a room and not talk to you. I’ll leave you there
for a little while.”
When it’s time to start pressing for information,
A Bronx Tale
He had many assignments within the Chicago PD, in- cluding the targeted response unit, a mobile strike force and
a narcotics unit. But working alongside detectives on the aggra- vated battery mission team in the old Area 4 revealed an opportu- nity for deeper involvement with crimes much like the ones he’d seen firsthand in his youth.
“I witnessed shootings and murders in the Bronx. As the police, you’re rarely there when somebody gets shot,” Johnson explained. “You’re there after the fact.”
Becoming a detective in 2013 revitalized Johnson’s career in law enforcement and has helped provide a prolific lifestyle for him and his family that he is grateful for. In 2016, when his godson, Jonathan Annicks, was targeted in a shooting that paralyzed him from the chest down, Johnson’s desire to chase violent criminals until convicted was only intensified.
“The cases I investigate wound up affecting me personally. It was surreal,” Johnson shared.
Johnson has a critical choice to make. Will he play the father figure role? Or does this suspect need to be hit hard with questions and evidence? Johnson uses a combination of the evidence and the profile of the offender to decide. Within minutes of entering the interview room, he knows exactly what
tone to set for the interrogation.
“Communication is huge as a detective,” Johnson stressed. “It’s
not about how big or fast you are. It’s about how well you can com- municate with somebody to get them to trust you enough to tell you something that’s going to put them in prison.”
Johnson’s ability to relate to all walks of life brings him right back to his roots, growing up in the Bronx and later working in a corrections facility where he was constantly interacting with criminals. In many ways, he feels like he’s seen all the crime and violence that city streets have to offer. But in the detective divi- sion, every day brings something new, and that’s what makes Johnson believe, beyond reasonable doubt, that he has the best job in law enforcement. d
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ DECEMBER 2017 23