Lakewood Remembers Retired Police Chief Charles Johnston

LAKEWOOD, CO — Retired Lakewood Police Chief Charles Johnston died over the weekend after battling cancer, the police department announced Monday. Johnston was 78 years old.

Johnston served as the department's director and chief for nearly two decades. He became a Lakewood police officer in 1970, and rose through the ranks to become the department's director in just 11 years.

He was a Vietnam veteran whose honors included four Bronze Stars for heroism, the Purple Heart, and the Air Medal for 50 helicopter missions.

"In his 30-year career with the Lakewood Police Department, Chief Johnston headed every division and even served a two-year term as acting city manager," the department said in a news release. "He was a dedicated booster of Special Olympics Colorado, and even elected to their Hall of Fame for helping to raise $200,000 for the program."

One of his biggest accomplishments was changing the agency's name from the Lakewood Department of Public Safety to the Lakewood Police Department.

"Bringing LPD into a new era, he took the title of chief rather than director, and replaced the blue blazers agents wore at the time with the standard police uniform we now know," the release read. "He also created a legacy of recognizing our agent’s education and professionalism by working with City Council to adopt a philosophy that police agent pay and benefits would always remain at least one percent above any other police department in Colorado."

Johnston also established the Lakewood Police Department's Speakers Bureau, Neighborhood Watch and Citizen's Police Academy programs.

"Chief Johnston will be remembered as a strong leader with an incredible sense of humor who transformed the Lakewood Police Department into who we are today," the department said.

"Our hearts are with Chief Johnston’s family at this difficult time. Thank you for your service Chief. We have the watch from here."