Ted Johnson ‘was a force to be reckoned with’
The officer who led Niagara Region Police Association through turbulent times is being remembered for his dedication to improving the lives of the men and women in the policing community.
Edward (Ted) Johnson was the first administrator of the association, the labour organization which today represents more than 1,000 uniform and civilian members of the Niagara Regional Police Service.
He died Saturday at Hospice Niagara after a brief illness. He was 81.
“Ted Johnson was a force to be reckoned with and, lucky for us, his legacy is ours,” said Leanne McClay, NRPA chief operating officer.
Johnson’s policing and association career began in 1961 with the St. Catharines Police Force. When the province formed Niagara Region, Johnson was a part of the team that in 1971 negotiated the first contract for the new service and the accompanying decisions to manage the transition. Niagara Region Police Association began with 398 officers and 42 civilian employees.
“He was the forerunner in getting us the equipment we needed — not just in Niagara, but across the country — so we would be a modern police service,” said Cliff Priest, today’s longtime association president.
“He was a really important individual when it comes to the transition from small-town policing to the large police services we have in Ontario.” Johnson retired in 1993 but remained active with the association work and assisted smaller associations with bargaining and arbitration.
“I truly admire not only what he accomplished in this sector, but also how his foresight continues to benefit our members on an ongoing basis,” McClay said.
In an environment that was almost exclusively male, Johnson embraced the concept of gender-neutrality long before female officers were the norm, the association said.
Johnson’s involvement with the Police Association of Ontario began in 1970 and continued through his retirement. He served in several positions on the board; and, in 1994, he was awarded the Police Association of Ontario’s Dennis R. Latten Award, the highest honour in recognition for an individual’s service and contribution to the organization. In 2016, he was awarded the Canadian Police Association’s Roll of Honour Award.
Johnson served as executive officer of the Canadian Police Association from 1988 to 1992 and as a director for an additional four years.
“The presence that the NRPA has among its counterparts originated with Ted Johnson and the respect he garnered in his many representational roles,” McClay said.
After his retirement, he still found opportunities to give back to the community. He was a member of the property standards committee for the Town of Pelham and chair of the Pelham Community Policing Committee.
Johnson is survived by his wife of 61 years, Gloria, and his three children, Chris (Shar), Craig and Briar (Ken) Rendell.