Anderson PD Chief expresses why he loves Shasta County and its residents

February 3, 2021 Trevor Montgomery

ANDERSON, Calif. — City of Anderson Police Chief Michael L. Johnson yesterday wrote an open letter to his community – which was shared via social media and can be viewed in its entirety below – expressing why he loves Shasta County and its residents.

SEE RECENT ANDERSON AREA HEADLINE NEWS AND ARRESTS:
Knife-wielding Anderson felon arrested after threatening mother and child
Arrested and handcuffed, Anderson felon nabbed after fleeing from deputies
Children removed from Anderson home, 2 arrested after officers find “deplorable conditions”, drugs
Anderson felon arrested after running from, fighting with officer
Arrested 6 times this year, Anderson “chronic offender” arrested again

Saying that despite the fact that law enforcement professionals nationwide “have been unjustly branded with a negative stigmatism and portrayed by the media as biased and unfair,” Johnson said that most of the Shasta County residents he comes into contact with “understand the dedication, commitment, and integrity of the men and women in law enforcement and (their) quest to serve and protect each and every citizen of this great country equally and unbiasedly.”

“Shasta County is an example of an America I still love and appreciate …and… is home to communities that still adhere to genuine, traditional values and the foundation of American principles,” Johnson enthused.

As the eleventh Chief of Police to serve the Anderson community, Johnson has said he takes pride in preserving the “Northstate way of life”. Anderson Police Department photo

A Message From The Chief of Police
“Why I Love Shasta County”

As of late, the law enforcement profession nationally has been unjustly branded with a negative stigmatism and portrayed by the media as biased and unfair. As part of the campaign to discredit law enforcement, some of these groups attempt to assign typical law enforcement symbolism (like the Thin Blue Line Flag) with oppressive and racist like connotations. Many communities have allowed these small and very vocal groups to politically pressure entities into censorship out of fear of media persecution. Despite the un-credible and deceitful tactics of ill-intended radical idealisms, there are still regions in this country that understand the dedication, commitment, and integrity of the men and women in law enforcement and our quest to serve and protect each and every citizen of this great country equally and unbiasedly. Shasta County is an example of an America I still love and appreciate.
Take Mrs. Tompkins’ 3rd grade elementary class for example. These children at Anderson Heights Elementary School are the Anderson Police Department’s (APD) “adopted” kids of the community. These children write letters and send special law enforcement themed treats expressing their thanks and understanding of what the police do in the community. In the most recent display of gratitude, the students in Mrs. Tompkins’ class put together snack mix packages with the Thin Blue Line Flag proudly represented on the packaging. In the accompanying signed letter, the Thin Blue Line again appeared across the page that bears signatures from the children and their teacher. Members of APD visit our local schools, interact with the kids, and express our appreciation for them.
I LOVE Shasta County.
In Palo Cedro, California, where the American flag hangs from the cowboy tavern, where the barbershop is still host to locals telling hunting and fishing tales, and where true appreciation and support for our USA military men and women rings proud, you can find another admirable example of a community school displaying their support and pride for local law enforcement.
A few weeks ago, on my way home from work, I was pleasantly surprised to find posters hung along the soccer field fence of Junction Junior High School. The posters were clearly hand-drawn and colored by students from the school in appreciation of National Law Enforcement Day (January 9, 2021). I turned around, pulled over in front of the display, got out of my police truck, and examined the display (still in full uniform). I was proud to be an officer and even more proud to stand there, in the town I reside, in front of an unapologetic display of appreciation from the children of a public school; a school still bold enough to openly proclaim their support for law enforcement. Imagine that, a public school of all things, willing to honor a profession that strives to uphold the Constitutional rights of every human being … fairly, unbiasedly, and equally. A school that does not tolerate an extremist ideology that strives to diminish the core values upheld by peace officers. A school that does not accept the attempts by some to apply a degraded meaning to the Thin Blue Line philosophy.
The next day I called the school administration in search of identifying the responsible students and/or supervising adult of this display. I learned that it was the Junction Junior High Student Council comprised of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students who made the posters and affixed them to the fence under the leadership of Mrs. Lee. Several days later, my administrative assistant and I paid a visit to the student council group to express our appreciation and admiration for their display of support. We also presented the student council with a custom Anderson Police Department Thin Blue Line Flag.
I love Shasta County; home to communities that still adhere to genuine, traditional values and the foundation of American principles.
City of Anderson Police Chief Michael L. Johnson

Click any image to open full-size gallery.

Anderson Police Department photos above

Anderson Police Department can be reached at (530) 378-6600 or by email. Chief Johnson can be reached at [email protected].

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https://www.facebook.com/JKknottygrill — Following all current State mandates and restrictions on dining, JK’s Knotty Grill, located inside The Shasta Inn in Mt. Shasta, remains open for outdoor dining and pickup orders. With a new expanded Take-Out menu, including crowd favorites such as JK’s Signature Knotty Klucker, Blackened Salmon with lemon jasmine rice and steamed veggies, and Grilled Pesto Chicken Salad with Tzatziki dressing, JK’s Knotty Grill is the place to go for extraordinary comfort foods and a large selection of beers, wines, and other beverages. For more information, visit JK’s Knotty Grill online or on Facebook or give them a call at (530) 859-8533.

https://www.facebook.com/Chatty-Kathys-591429164717427 — *Recently recognized by Enjoy magazine for one of the North State’s top ten best burgers,* Chatty Kathy’s serves mouth watering burgers, talk-of-the-town sandwiches, delicious milk shakes and a variety of ice creams. Located just east of Burney in Johnson Park, Chatty Kathy’s is run by local resident Kathy Ragsdale, who says, “We’ve been in the food business for 20 years and have met a lot of great people who have touched our hearts. We serve our meals with special pride; making sure all our customers are happy and full and get what they ordered.”

*For more information about Junior’s Westside Auto Sales visit them on* Facebook or online.https://www.juniorswestside.com/

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes for or has written for several other news organizations; including Mountain Echo in Shasta County, Riverside County-based newspapers, Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.