Ronald S. Johnson

Ronald S. Johnson is a Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain, and a prominent figure in the aftermath of the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown. Johnson's leadership during the August 14, 2014 protests in Ferguson, Missouri was a significant factor in quelling the unrest that occurred the night before. Johnson was criticized after officers under his command used tear gas on crowds of protesters, some containing women and children, on the nights of August 15, 16, and 17.
Early life
Johnson was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1963. His father was a security guard at St. Louis University and his mother was employed as a receiving clerk at a chemical company. Johnson earned a criminal justice degree at Florissant Valley Community College, and in 1987, took a highway patrol job. In 1995, he received a promotion to corporal, and two years later became a sergeant.
In 2002, Johnson became a captain. He was appointed to the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission by Missouri Governor Matt Blunt in 2007.
Role in 2014 Ferguson, Missouri unrest
After the fatal 2014 shooting of an unarmed teen, Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri, several days of protests and riots occurred. On August 13, 2014, a large SWAT team presence and the arrest of journalists drew wide-scale criticism of what was described as "militarization of the police". Missouri Governor Jay Nixon gave a press conference on August 14, 2014 declaring that the Missouri State Highway Patrol would take over policing Ferguson from the St. Louis County police, whose tactics were widely criticized, referring to the change as "an operational shift," and that police will use force "only when necessary," and will generally "step back a little bit." Nixon appointed Johnson to oversee the security team responsible for maintaining order at the protests. On the evening of August 14, 2014, Johnson walked with and led a large, peaceful march in Ferguson.
Johnson was credited with stopping the use of tear gas on Ferguson protesters, in part by ordering his officers to remove their gas masks during protests.
However, Johnson's statement in that tear gas would not be used, turned out not to be true when under his lead, tear gas was used for several nights. Despite Johnson's non-confrontational tactics, looting continued on Friday August 15th and Johnson was required to impose an evening curfew effective August 16th.
Journalist arrests
Johnson was criticized after officers under his command arrested journalists during the Ferguson protests. Press Freedom Groups claimed that he orchestrated a "concerted, top-down effort to restrict the fundamental First Amendment rights of the public and the press" Other journalists reported being threatened with arrest and affected by tear-gas. Authorities tried to restrict members of the news media to a designated area away from the protests, sometimes nicknamed a "press pen."
Personal life
Johnson is married and has two adult children.<ref name=root />

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