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DRAPER — A stranger and fellow police officer has decided to honor slain officer Derek Johnson by participating in a 300-mile bike ride and fundraiser.
Johnson was a Draper police officer who was killed in the line of duty. His funeral was held Sept. 6, 2013, and his brother, Dayson Johnson, said he will never forget that day.
"They give it all for this job," Dayson Johnson said. "You can choose to be angry, but as much as you want to be angry, what is that going to do? Who is that going to bring back, you know?"
Instead of being angry, the Johnson family has decided to look back on that day and all the days Derek was alive, with happiness.
"They're strong," Dayson Johnson said. "Man, I got one awesome family."
The community has also been very supportive, and one of those involved is Weber County Sgt. Danny Driggs. Dayson Johnson said Driggs recently asked for permission to participate in a bicycle ride in honor of Derek Johnson.
"Honoring the fallen officers has always been very close to my heart," Driggs said.
In 2012, Driggs did the same bike ride known as the Police Unity Tour from New Jersey to Washington, D.C., with officers from across the country. He rode in honor of fallen officers like the Utah Highway Patrol's Aaron Beesley and the Ogden Police Department's Jared Francom. Both died in the line of duty in 2012.
"You don't have to know the person to be affected by the sacrifice they made and want to honor them," Driggs said. "When you're feeling that lack of energy, you think about why you are there, and you get that boost."
When Driggs called Dayson Johnson to tell him about the upcoming ride for 2014 and invited family members to do the ride as well, Dayson Johnson said he couldn't wait, even though it's nearly 300 miles long.
"They're all my brothers now," Dayson Johnson said. "You know? And, I wished I had thought about that before, but now, you understand it a little more."
The Police Unity Tour will be May 10 and will cost about $1,900 for participants. Riders have to raise their own money to pay for the costs.
Driggs and the Johnson family set up a donation page to help fund their ride. Some of the money from the bike ride will go toward the National Police Memorial.
