Derek R. Johnson Award

FOP’s “Officer of the Year”

Sgt. Derek Johnson was shot and killed in the Line of Duty on September 1, 2013. Derek was a board member of Draper FOP Lodge #18. After his death, his father described him as a “hardcore FOP guy” and how he loved the profession.

The FOP’s “Derek R. Johnson Award” will be presented as the FOP’s Officer of the Year, when warranted. This award will go to the FOP member in the state that exemplifies the characteristics of what Derek brought to the profession and to the FOP.

Award recipients will be honored at the annual Black & Blue Gala. The DRJ award is presented by Derek’s widow, Shante.


Recipients of the Derek R. Johnson Award:
2023 - Mike Berg - Jim Crowley Lodge #51
2022 - Caleb Wilson - South Jordan Lodge #16
2021 - Kevin Murray - Capital City Lodge #29
2020 - Awards Not Issued - Covid
2019 - BJ Shelby - DPS Lodge #32
2018 - Kevin Salmon - Cottonwood Heights Lodge #24
2017 - Rebecca Marshall - DPS Lodge #32
2016 - Isaac Pace - SL County Lodge #22
2015 - Ian Adams - West Jordan Lodge #8
2014 - Derek R. Johnson - Draper Lodge #18

Jim C. Crowley FOP Lodge President of the Year:
2023 - Darick Fisher - Weber Lodge #1
2022 - Dale Rodeback - Murray Lodge #37
2021 - Cottonwood Heights #24 - Jake Griffith
2020 - Awards Not Issued - Covid
2019 - Dixie Lodge #35
2018 - West Valley Lodge #4
2017 - Lodge #8 - Brandon Turner
2016 - Dixie Lodge #35 - John Manzer
2015 - Weber Lodge #1 - Danny Driggs

Kevin Salmon Wellness Award:
2023 - Courtney Whitney - State Corrections Lodge #14
2022 - Kevin Salmon

FOP Chief of the Year:
2023 - Chief Eric Young - Weber Lodge #1
2022 - Chief Greg Severson - Sandy Lodge #21
2021 - Chief Blair Barfuss - Dixie Lodge #35
2020 - Awards Not Issued - Covid
2019 - Chief Rich Ferguson - Provo Lodge #23
2018 - Chief Jack Carruth - South Salt Lake Lodge #15
2017 - Chief Paul Child - Lodge #6
2016 - Chief Wayne Hansen - Farmington PD - Davis Lodge #6
2015 - Chief Greg Butler - Davis Lodge - Woods Cross PD - #6

FOP Sheriff of the Year:
2023 - Sheriff Ken Carpenter - Iron County Sheriff
2022 - Sheriff Mike Smith - Utah County Lodge #31
2021 - Sheriff Ryan Arbon - Weber Lodge #1
2020 - Awards Not Issued - Covid
2019 - Sheriff Erik Bailey - Uintah Lodge #48
2018 - None nominated
2017 - Sheriff Jim Tracy - Lodge #31
2016 - Sheriff Justin Martinez - Summit County - Summit Lodge #20

Community Service:
2023 - Jon Huntsman, Jr - Community Service Award
2022 - Jeanetta Williams - NAACP - Community Service Award

Lifetime Achievement Award:
2019 - Bill Salmon, 1st Utah President - Lifetime Achievement
2023 - Bret W. Rawson, General Counsel - Lifetime Achievement