When asked how he felt after receiving the prestigious Purple Heart award Tuesday night, Lynwood police Officer Michael Johnson gave a small shrug and averted his eyes.
“I’m glad I’m here to receive it,” the 50-year-old from Harvey put simply. “I’m not an out-front person. I can do out front, but I like to be behind the scenes. So all of this is new for me.”
Johnson was grazed in the shoulder while assisting sheriff’s police on a call to Ambassador Lane in Ford Heights June 29. After answering the 3 a.m. call, Johnson and other officers found one man already shot and who was later pronounced dead, according to police.
While officers were taking care of the victim, unknown offenders fired on the police, wounding Johnson. The officers returned fire and the offenders fled, police said.
Though Johnson said he felt he was just doing what was expected of him, policy Chief Gregory Thomas said the officer’s response when faced with danger was amazing, especially considering Johnson had only been a Lynwood officer for roughly a year. Thomas said reviewing the body camera footage inspired him to advocate for Johnson to receive a police Purple Heart.
“He didn’t think twice about pushing forward toward the threat,” Thomas said.
“And even when he was wounded, when other officers — you can hear them — wanted to remove him from the hostile area, he repeatedly says, ‘I’m good. I can still fight.’”
Johnson was taken to a hospital and treated over the course of several days, and he has returned to duty.
Tuesday’s Village Board meeting was dedicated to honoring Johnson as well as sending off police Cmdr. Jessie Hernandez, who is retiring after 21 years with the department due to ongoing health issues. More than 100 people overfilled the board room as officials showed appreciation for the commander’s commitment to protecting the community.
“Please know that you are only leaving active duty, not the village of Lynwood,” Mayor Jada Curry told Hernandez before retiring his badge number. “You will always be family to us.”
Curry and Thomas each expressed bittersweet sentiment over the emotional joint honoring of the officer and commander. But both said they were grateful for the opportunity to see united appreciation for police and show the positive influences they have.
“Let’s face it, law enforcement nowadays, there’s not many pats on the back for what we do,” Thomas said. “People don’t know that there’s many more Michael Johnsons out there who haven’t been acknowledged.”
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
