Top cop retires after nearly half a century serving the community
It seems a fire-starting Mongrel Mob member is to thank for igniting the nearly 50-year, career of newly retired New Plymouth Sergeant Terry Johnson.
Johnson, who retired at the end of June, began working as a traffic officer for the Ministry of Transport in Kawerau in the late 1970s. Things were going well until one day a disgruntled mobster fire-bombed his house and car.
Thankfully, nobody was injured, but the incident prompted Johnson to embark on a new career path and he applied to join the police force. The rest, they say, is history.
After graduating from police college in 1986, Johnson was posted to Stratford in Taranaki, where his career really began to take off.
In 1988, Johnson received a Silver Merit Award and made world headlines after he chased Arthur Taylor – later one of New Zealand’s most notorious prisoners – on foot more than 30km over a five-hour period.
Johnson had seen Taylor breaking into a car yard in Stratford and gave chase when he ran.
Johnson was out of contact, with no communications until he ran past a house, knocked on the wall with his baton and yelled for the occupants to call 111.
Johnson and other officers who arrived on the scene surrounded Taylor and arrested him.
The following year, Johnson went one better and received a Gold Merit Award for his bravery and dedication to duty during an incident where he was threatened by an armed and unpredictable offender.
The offender had two firearms and a knife on him and rammed Johnson’s patrol car after a pursuit, with Johnson successfully arresting him.
In the years that followed, Johnson held various roles across Taranaki, where he spent all his policing career.
He became the Stratford sergeant in 1995 before joining the New Plymouth general duties branch as a supervisor in 1997.
From 2002 to 2023, Johnson was the Westown community sergeant and during this time he made a significant impact on community's trust and confidence.
In 2014, Johnson became one of the first recipients of the Police Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) in recognition of his professionalism, commitment and outstanding contribution to police and communities in New Plymouth.
Johnson was joined by colleagues, family and friends for his retirement function late last month.
Among those in attendance was Inspector Darin Haenga, who worked with Johnson on and off for more than 30 years.
Haenga spoke fondly of Johnson’s enduring impact across the Taranaki police area and community throughout his career.
“Terry is a doer and he is always wanting to do the best job with the best outcome for all involved and in particular victims,” Haenga said.
Johnson said over his 47-year career, changes in both society and policing had been “massive”.
“So one must be able to adapt to the change process and then work out where you fit in and where you can contribute, by bringing your own skills and character to your work,” he said.
“My retirement is best described as bittersweet, as I will miss the people element, the problem solving, decisionmaking aspects and will now have to go through another change process.”