LE FLORE COUNTY, Okla. — Sequoyah County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) announced the passing of one of its deputy sheriffs.
"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Deputy Sheriff Roger Johnson," SCSO said.
SCSO said Deputy Johnson died unexpectedly the morning of Thursday, Feb. 1, at his home in Roland.
Deputy Johnson started his job at SCSO in July 2009 and was recently serving as a volunteer school resource deputy at Moffett Schools, the release said.
"Roger had been asked in the past about becoming an investigator and things of that nature but he never wanted that he wanted to stay on the street where he could interact with the public more," Undersheriff Charles House said. "He really wanted to do what's best. And, yes, he liked to make the department happy. But in reality, he was more about making the people happy."
While an award to his name sits inside the sheriff's office, it was in the last year and a half that the undersheriff says Deputy Johnson really shined. Deputy spent that time as the volunteer SRO in Moffett.
"He would call myself or Sheriff Larry Lane, sometimes daily to tell us how much he loved his job. He you know, he would, it was a joke because it you know, if I'd known it was gonna be this great, I would have done it years ago," Undersheriff House said.
Superintendent Lance Stuart said they had to inform students about the deputy no longer being on campus. While a counselor was present for the students, the superintendent was still processing the loss himself. Stuart had known the deputy for over 20 years. He explained that Johnson's daughter attended Moffett Public Schools and that he coached her on the basketball team.
"I just talked to him that night before. And last thing he said 'Well, I'll see you in the morning. I'm living the dream,' and 'I said I'll see you in the morning, same time,'" Superintendent Stuart recalled.
Known affectionately as reject to other deputies, students knew Deputy Johnson as 'Papa Johnson'. Superintendent Stuart explained it was because his granddaughter attends the school. Now many will remember the deputy as they pass an empty blue chair.
"he asked me, he said, Would you mind if I get a chair and sit out here by the breezeway this long? I said, Roger, I don't care a bit. He said, because we have a blind spot over here. And he said, of course, we have all the gates locked, but he said, I want those babies to know, that I'm here, you know, and want them to feel safe," Superintendent Stuart explained.
SCSO said Deputy Johnson loved this position and "couldn't wait to get to work every day," sharing that he would always say he wished he worked for the school "a long time ago."
"Roger Johnson will be greatly missed by our Sheriff’s office family and we ask for prayers for Roger’s family in this tough time," said SCSO.
Johnson's funeral service will be held at the Moffett Gymnasium on Wednesday at 2 p.m. School will be dismissed at noon.
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