REGIONAL NEWS
REGION II
Col. Freddy Johnson Appointed Commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol • 285 commercial motor vehicle inspections were conducted. • 18 vehicles and 99 drivers were placed out of service. • 427 driver and 107 vehicle violations were discovered. • 225 citations were issued – 20 possession of marijuana, 32 possession of other drugs, seven possession of alcohol, 65 DUI arrests (drugs and alcohol combined) and 101 physical arrests. • One child endangerment charge was issued. • One missing juvenile was recovered. The agencies involved in these operations came together through fellowship and training and shared a blessed meal before engaging in the enforcement efforts. Maj. Vickery challenged our training division to continue to create programs and improve officer skill sets through training and structured checks to raise awareness and produce better officers and, ultimately, to slow down the alarming issue of impairment within the commercial motor vehicle industry.
By Monica Y. Greiss, Staff Development Specialist II, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, North Carolina Department of Public Safety Col. Freddy L. Johnson Jr. was appointed the 28th commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol on April 7, 2021. Col. Johnson began his career as a graduate of the 95th Basic Patrol School in 1995. He served as a trooper in Lumberton, North Carolina, from 1996-2000 and in Fayetteville, North Carolina, from 2000-2004.
section and made significant improvements. Col. Johnson believes in creating relationships with state and national partners, which has helped and will continue to help the state of North Carolina become more involved on national committees and has increased safety for the motoring public.
He became a sergeant, and later first sergeant, while again serving in Lumberton from 20042007. Upon his promotion to lieutenant in 2011, he served in Fayetteville. Col. Johnson was promoted to captain in 2013 and served as the Field Operations Unit commander until 2017, when he rose to the rank of major.
Now, as commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section remains a high priority and consistent focus for Col. Johnson. The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, as a whole, will be accelerated to a higher level due to Col. Johnson’s exemplary dedication.
Col. Johnson led the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section for four years and, within that time frame, immersed himself within the
We congratulate Col. F. L. Johnson Jr. on his appointment as the 28th commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. n
Col. Freddy L. Johnson Jr.
Pictured left to right: Darrell Ruban with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Jon McCormick with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Col. Johnson.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and Col. Johnson.
Col. Johnson’s swearing-in ceremony.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety’s goal is to minimize the dangers drivers face while operating on our roadways, by strictly enforcing our traffic laws. MCCD state officers are committed to seeking out impaired drivers and reducing crashes within our state. The commitment to the safety and training of our state officers is reflected in the results of our statewide checks, contributing to the safety of all who travel on our highways and reaffirming our departmental core values. n
THIRD QUARTER 2021
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