Richmond Nonprofit Helps Ex-Felons Get Back on Their Feet
Special to The Post
On Saturday, April 20, the Richmond Police Activities League’s board of directors will host a dedication of the Technology Center officially naming it for retired Richmond Police Department Capt. Arthur Lee Johnson at 11 a.m. at 2200 Macdonald Ave.
Retired RPD Captain Arthur Lee Johnson is a founding member of RPAL, having served on the board of directors since 1982. For his dedicated service to Richmond youths, RPAL will dedicate its Technology Center in his honor.
Family, friends, and the community are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served.
Retired Captain Arthur Lee Johnson can be characterized as “Mr. Community Service.”
Johnson spent most of his professional career in law enforcement employed in the Richmond Police Department in California. On May 16, 1967, he was sworn in as an officer and rose through the ranks from patrolman to captain and acting chief before retiring after 25 years. However, RPAL was founded in 1982, Art was selected to become one of the charter members of its board of directors and has continued to serve and support the organization for the past 42 years.
His top priorities always include focusing on and providing needed services for the young people in the community, steering them in positive directions for life, which is a necessary tool of crime prevention. A few highlights of RPAL service include: Leader of RPAL fishing program, Shop with a COP, RPAL double-Dutch contest, annual golf tournament, carnival and all of RPAL’s fundraisers
Art attended school in the Bay Area, earning an Associate of Arts degree from Contra Costa College and Bachelor of Science degree from the University of San Francisco. Also, he has completed additional professional development courses at various universities, including training at the National F.B.1. Academy at Quantico, Virginia.
Even though Art’s primary career was in law enforcement, he served in the United States Air Force, became a MUNI driver in San Francisco and worked for the
U.S. Postal Service. He is widely known for his expertise in ballroom dancing, which he taught in Oakland Parks and Recreation and at the University of San Francisco. He modeled and was a choreographer for many cotillions in the Bay Area. Additionally, he taught law enforcement training classes at Los Medanos College.
During his career with RPD, he served in the following areas: patrol, juvenile detective, community relations, desk sergeant, property sergeant, Internal Affairs, Criminal Investigations commander, Special Services Bureau commander and RPD softball team
Art is also quite proud of his spiritual leadership. He is a member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church of Richmond, where his father was the pastor prior to his departure from this life.
There, he has been active in the following areas: Deacon board, Trustee board, Men of Power, Usher board, Stewardship Ministry, Male Chorus and Mass Choir.
Community service has included: RPAL, Kiwanis, Toastmaster’s, Guardians of Justice, Salvation Army bell ringer, Chamber-Men Who Cook, Noble, Bauf, and East Bay Captain’s Association.
Art resides in Richmond, California with his wife, Laura Johnson. He has two daughters, Shawna Morris (Learinza) and Karan Basey. There are eight grandchildren, Jazmyne, Roger, Angelique, Learinza, Leelee, Dezare, L’Xandrya, and Lars.
