DAYTONA BEACH -- Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson has always been a straight shooter with this media outlet.
So it shouldn't come as a surprise that he's being recognized by Headline Surfer® as part of its fifth anniversary celebration as top cop; not just because his agency is the county's largest, but because of his leadership and professionalism.
The 63-year-old sheriff tells it like it is and is always a phone call away without reservation. And by no means is Johnson a pushover or a glad-hander.
He's as tough as they come as a lawman and as an elected official. Even after suffering a mild heart attack in April, Johnson was back at work eight days later.
Johnson, now midway through his fourth four-year term, employs the best public information office personnel Volusia County has to offer in Gary Davidson and Brandon Haught, civilian employees who are top notch in providing news information: good, bad or otherwise.
If there's one thing to be said above all else of Johnson, if there is a bad apple in his department, his PIOs don't stonewall in getting the information out to the media.
That's something he doesn't waver on.
Johnson has the distinction of being the longest serving employee in the Sheriff's Office with 41 years under his belt; the latter 14 as sheriff.
Without hesitation, Headline Surfer® endorsed Ben Johnson for sheriff in 2012, and if he decides to run again in two years, he'll likely get the nod yet again. And why not?
Without hesitation, Headline Surfer® endorsed Ben Johnson for sheriff in 2012, and if he decides to run again in two years, he'll likely get the nod yet again. And why not?
Johnson comes off as a good ol' boy with his native Florida accent and mild-mannered demeanor, but he's all business and has earned the respect of his administrators and deputies.
Johnson subscribes to the age-old adage that sticks and stones may break his bones, but names will never hurt him -- especially after he was called a "moron" by Daytona Beach Police Chief Michael Chitwood in a public meeting back in 2010.
Johnson wasn't even at the meeting and why he even came up in the first place beyond Chitwood's own insecurities has never really been explained.
However, it caused quite a stir with then-County Chair Frank Bruno demanding an apology. Of course, no such apology ever come from Chitwood nor did Johnson expect one, saying from the onset through a spokesman that Chitwood's name calling was not worthy of a response.
And while Chitwood, who has built a sullied reputation for calling people names like "knuckleheads" and "scumbags," a trait he's copied from his father back in Pennsylvania, he's envied Johnson's stature as Volusia County's top cop in the county's largest police force ever since his arrival half a dozen years ago.
Daytona Beach Police Chief Michael Chitwood, known for name calling and running his mouth before thinking in front of the TV cameras, once referred to Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson at a public meeting as a 'moron.' To his credit, Johnson, a man of class, said through a spokesman Chitwood's nastiness wasn't worthy of a response.
And while Chitwood, who has built a sullied reputation for calling people names like "knuckleheads" and "scumbags," a trait he's copied from his father back in Pennsylvania, he's envied Johnson's stature as Volusia County's top cop in the county's largest police force ever since his arrival half a dozen years ago.
Johnson oversees a department with 463 sworn positions, 460 civilian employees, 213 volunteers and an annual operating budget of $72 million.
Chitwood's bullying mentality has included playing favorites in the media and even ostracizing this media outlet for reporting how he promoted a patrol supervisor to second in command, even with a lengthy track record of alleged sexual harassment of women cops under his command.
Johnson has never lowered himself to ostracizing or showing favoritism to one media outlet over another.
All he's ever done is quietly, but effectively, gone about his business in leading his troops by example. Even after he was forced to use deadly force in killing an armed man early in his career, Johnson has not put a notch on his gun belt like some trigger-happy bragging cowboy.
He's got too much class.
The same can't be said of Johnson's counterpart in Daytona.
By contrast, Chitwood, dubbed by one union official as "microphone Mike," couldn't wait to tell TV reporters how he allegedly tackled a couple of bad guys a couple of years ago, belying his neatly pressed white dress shirt that showed no signs of tussling in the mud on this particular rainy day.
That's certainly not Johnson's modus operandi.
Chitwood's all-too-obvious chip on the shoulder as it pertains to Johnson reminds this writer of a saying by retired professional wrestler Ric Flair who coined the phrase, "To be the man, you've got to beat the man."
Well, that's not happening nor will it, ever. Not in Chitwood's wildest dreams.
Retited professional wrestler and Hall of Famer Ric Flair, one of the best in the sqyuared-circle and on the microphone, coined the phrase that befits Daytona Police Chief Michael Chitwood's jealousy of Volusia County's true top cop, Sheriff Ben Johnson.
Chitwood's all-too-obvious chip on the shoulder as it pertains to Johnson reminds this writer of a saying by retired professional wrestler Ric Flair who coined the phrase, "To be the man, you've got to beat the man."
Well, that's not happening nor will it, ever for Chitwood. Not in Chitwood's wildest dreams.
As part of its fifth anniversary celebration, Headline Surfer® salutes Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson for his selfless leadership and proven experience in the mission of serving and protecting the county's residents.
It's doubtful anyone could ask for or expect anything more, but if such a demand were made, Sheriff Johnson would do his best to listen and try to make it happen.
Part 2 of the Sunday Conversation with Sheriff Ben Johnson
5th anniversary honorees:
Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson recognized as part of internet newspaper's 5th anniversary
Volusia Tax Reform recognized in internet newspaper's 5th anniversary
Biker rights attorney Michael Politis among internet newspaper's top award recipients-----------------------------------
Political Advertising on HeadlineSurfer.com.
