Laurel native and West Jones High School graduate Eric Johnson is one of nine Mississippi Highway Patrol troopers promoted from the rank of master sergeant to lieutenant.
Johnson, who has served as a state trooper for 16 years, said he has been interested in law enforcement for as long as he can remember.
“I applied for the Mississippi Highway Patrol in 1993 and began training in 1994,” said Johnson “I graduated from the academy in Pearl in 1994.
Johnson graduated from trooper school in cadet class 49. He worked in Hattiesburg Distinct Troop J from 1994 to 2001. He was later promoted into the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
“In 2005, I received another promotion to the rank of master sergeant and was assigned to Troop A in Meridian,” said Johnson. “I graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2009 and received the rank of lieutenant.”
As lieutenant, Johnson serves as district supervisor for Troop D of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations in Greened.
“I love my work,” said Johnson. “I feel like I’m giving back to the community in which I serve.”
He added that his career as a state trooper has impacted his life as well as those around him.
“It has helped me strive to be the best and continually grow in this profession,” he said. “ It has been an honor to be meritoriously promoted to the rank of lieutenant and I will continually give service to the department as well as people of the great state of Mississippi.”
As he promoted the new lieutenants, Chief of the Mississippi Highway Patrol Colonel Michael Berthay wished them well, but said their responsibilities have been increased.
“I wish you well in your future endeavors, but you know the issue and the problems you’ll face. First, we’ll need your help in filling your master sergeant spots,” said Berthay.
Local News
Related Photos
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Photo/Submitted (Mississippi Department of Public Safety)
Laurel native receives MHP promotion
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