The Edna Police Department welcomes a new officer, Brandon Johnson, 33, who hails from California and brings a lot to the table. This is his first law enforcement job and he has hopes of doing big things, as his past proves.
He trained at Fort Benning, Georgia for infantry school, and said after four months he was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky for his first duty station.
“I deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 for nine months with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault),” he said. “After my return from Afghanistan, I re-enlisted to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA in 2015 where I met my wife of almost 10 years.”
Johnson’s interest in law enforcement began early, and at 19 he applied for the ‘Cadet Explores’ program at his local Sheriff’s Department in California, and learned from deputies about the police routine and procedures of policing and being involved in the community.
“The deputies are who inspired me to want to become a peace officer,” he said. “It’s my hope to be there for the community in many ways, whether it’s to be someone others can speak to about how their day is going, or who needs help in different ways.”
After his military stint, Johnson graduated from Butte College Police Academy in California in 2019, but didn’t get a chance to be hired to an agency due to Covid restrictions in 2020. That’s when he and his wife moved to Texas to help care for his fatherin-law. Unfortunately he passed due to cancer, but not without leaving a legacy.
“My father-in-law was a Colonel of the U.S. Air Force, and was a West Point graduate in 1957. He served two tours in Vietnam,” he said.
While in Texas, Johnson worked at Tractor Supply in Victoria, then Goliad, but ultimately he decided
see JOHNSON BRINGS A LOT TO THE TABLE on page A3 to continue his criminal justice education. He graduated from the Victoria College Police Academy earlier this month, and after five and a half months of training, he began his journey with the EPD.
But his goals don’t stop there. He’s now eligible to receive his associate’s degree in criminal justice while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Johnson said he wants to be able to better understand people’s problems, and also work with PTSD soldiers.
“My biggest hope is to be a role model to the next generation, to know that challenges may come their way however, in the end, you see where that challenge has brought you,” he said. “I faced many challenges in the past but never gave up on my goals.” He said that’s due to his stepdad and uncle, who helped mold his work ethic.
It’s also clear he’s been motivated with whatever activity he’s been involved in, whether it be multiple sports in high school and college, plus writing for his high school yearbook and newspaper, and raising and showing lambs at his local county fair through FFA.
Johnson and his wife do not have children currently, but they do enjoy their dogs, cats, and one goat.
“I am really enjoying the city of Edna, when I started, I introduced myself to the department, who introduced me to the community, and has shown great support,” he said. “And I know I will be surrounded by a great community here in both Edna and Jackson County.”
