Sept. 1 marked a somber anniversary in Draper’s history: one decade since the city lost Sgt. Derek Johnson in the line of duty. As a kid, Johnson had dreamed of a career in policing and he fulfilled that dream after graduating from high school. The young policeman was shot and killed early one morning while on patrol in the area of Fort Street and 13200 South.

Every year, Draper’s police department honors Johnson by placing a wreath at his gravesite while bagpipes are played. This year, the ceremony was larger because of the 10-year milestone. Draper’s police and fire departments participated along with Johnson’s family and friends, Sandy Police Department’s Explorers, and officers from other agencies. Attendees shared their stories and thoughts of Johnson, a flyover of the cemetery concluded the ceremony, and a private social followed at Draper Park. 

Lt. Pat Evans of the Draper Police Department was one of Johnson’s closest friends. They met while students at Alta through the Sandy Police Explorers program and both pursued a profession in policing. They worked together on Draper’s police force and Evans was Johnson’s best man at his wedding. 

“It’s important to mention that even though Derek and I were close friends, he had many friends in the department. Derek was easy to love,” Evans said. 

Evans said Johnson was a devoted family man who dearly loved his wife Shante, son Bensen, and his parents and siblings. He praised Johnson as a hard worker who loved law enforcement, often took on extra work, was innovative with his ideas and successful with his assignments. “He was one of the best police officers around,” Evans said. 

In his short career, Sgt. Johnson received accolades including Detective of the Quarter from Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill in 2011 and Community Policing Officer of the Year from the Draper Area Chamber of Commerce in 2012. He helped fundraise and create a K-9 officer program in Saratoga Springs, solved an unprecedented number of graffiti cases in Draper, and performed CPR on an infant, saving the life of that baby who had nearly drowned.

His colleague and close friend Sgt. Clint Fackrell said in a 2013 article, “Derek was the most proactive guy I have worked with. I worked more overtime with Derek than I care to admit. I loved every minute of it.” 

Reflecting on the passing of a decade since the tragic loss, Evans said, “Ten years was very surreal. Somedays it feels like yesterday, other days it feels like it’s been forever. Life moves forward, but we never ‘move on.’ We’ve made a commitment to make sure that we never forget Sgt. Johnson’s family and that the Johnson family’s police family will always be there for them.”  

In addition to the Draper Police Department’s annual ceremony, an organization called Honoring Heroes places flags at both Johnson’s gravesite and the memorial park on 13200 South and Carlquist Drive. A private memorial further north on Fort Street features Johnson’s photo along with candles and flags. 

“Each year as Sept. 1 approaches, I’ve learned to appreciate that it’s a time of year we reflect on Sgt. Johnson’s life. It’s a time we can talk about the good times we had and remember his big smile and contagious laugh,” Evans said. “The day never ends without a few tears shed and wishing he was here with us.” λ