After nearly eight decades, Phoenix Police is finally recognizing Officer David Lee “Star” Johnson, who was gunned down in 1944, as an official fallen officer. As detailed by Phoenthe ix Police Department, Johnson, an African American beat cop during a racially charged era, becomes the second Phoenix officer to receive this posthumous honor, correcting a long oversight by the city.
Johnson's tale of sacrifice was almost lost to history, obscured by the passage of time and a department that seldom spoke of the 36-year-old Texan's end. But through the determined work of Sergeant Vincent Cole and retired Lieutenant Rob Settembre, a clear picture surfaced of the day that claimed Johnson's life. Cole told Phoenix.gov, "This is a very, very complex chain of events that occurred prior to the death, during the death and even after."
The tragic sequence of events unfolded on May 2, 1944, when Johnson and his partner, Officer Joe Davis, pulled over a car for a traffic violation. A confrontation between Johnson and off-duty Detective Leonce “Frenchy” Navarre escalated, leading to Navarre fatally shooting Johnson. Navarre faced trial twice; the first ended with a hung jury, while the second led to his acquittal. Later, Davis, who was deeply affected by his partner's death, retaliated by killing Navarre.
Phoenix Police Department historians Cole and Settembre have worked tirelessly to bring Johnson's forgotten story to light. They have now successfully lobbied for Johnson's recognition on both a local and a national level. “When I heard the story and got a full brief, I knew that we had to do the right thing because there is never a wrong time to do the right thing," said interim Police Chief Michael Sullivan after being presented with Johnson's case, as reported by Phoenix.gov.
The city of Phoenix added Johnson's name to the Employee Memorial Wall outside City Hall on March 21. Upcoming memorials include his name being etched into the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial wall in Washington D.C. during National Police Week, as well as a local ceremony at the Phoenix Police Officer Memorial on April 30 and the unveiling of a historical marker at the site of the shooting on May 2, the 80th anniversary of his death. Despite efforts, no living family members have been located to represent Johnson during the commemorations.
Follow the events honoring Officer Johnson this spring on Phoenix Police Department's social media channels at @phoenixpolice.
