ATHENS, Alabama — After 41 years of service, Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson is retiring and saying his final goodbyes. "Well, it's kind of hard to describe. You know, it's a lot of emotion running back and forth and very fast. We have an awesome city that I'm going to miss and a department that I dearly love the people in it that I have utmost respect for," he stated.
Retired Judge Jimmy Woodruff recalls swearing Chief Johnson in, just like it was yesterday. "I came back to practice law in 1980 and was appointed, I guess, in 1982 to be municipal court judge. And right that year, Floyd came in and to the force, and I remember distinctly swearing him in, you know, the certain people you remember real well. "
Furthermore, they have shared a bond every since. "Floyd was young and very capable and it was well known among the force that he was very well thought of early on. And I just remember him doing a great job."
Retired former co-worker of Chief Johnson Thomas Townsend agrees. "Everyone that knows Chief Johnson knows that he's a good guy with high moral character and everything." Judge Woodruff also adds, "... it's really rare for a man to have the camaraderie with the community in a really positive, friendly way and also be able to be stern in enforcing of the law as he's done."
Chief Johnson counts it a privilege to have had the opportunity to serve in this capacity for so many years. "I'm honored just to have had that privilege to get to do what I've got to do. I strongly recommend this career to anyone. It's not for everybody, but it's for the few."