Illinois Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors enjoys lunch break in Lincoln
Lincoln Police Department recognizes “Officer Moe” as Officer of the Year

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[July 17, 2017]  LINCOLN - On Friday morning spectators cheered and clapped as more than 50 bicyclers rolled into the parking lot at the Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District. They were there to enjoy a break and a hearty meal provided by Eminence Church of Rural Atlanta.

Among those in the group were family members of Lincoln Police officer Corporal Maurice “Officer Moe” Johnson.



As is tradition, Officer Moe was up front, leading the pack into his home town. This year, as he rode in, a large banner posted on the side of one of the Lincoln Rural fire trucks boasted that Officer Moe has been named as the 2016-17 Officer of the Year with the Lincoln Police Department.

A voice on a loud speaker called out Moe, with many loud cheers from the IL COPS group as it was announced that he had been named Officer of the Year.




Johnson would then gather his family, including his mother, sister, and other close relatives under the banner for a commemorative photo.



After everyone had filed through the food line and enjoyed their meal, Lincoln Police Chief Paul Adams was called to the front to present Johnson with his Officer of the Year Award. Johnson’s name will be added to the Officer of the Year plaque at the Lincoln Police Station, and he was awarded with a medal from the city of Lincoln and the police department.

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Johnson, who is known to most of his fellow officers as well as many members of the community as Moe, has been with the department since 2012. He came to Lincoln from the Galesburg Police Department where he served as a bicycle officer for five years.

Since coming to Lincoln he has adapted well to his new community and is involved with the community.

In 2016, he, along with three other officers, were recognized with the Life Saving Award from the Lincoln Police Department.

From the account given in 2016:

The first officers on the scene were Corporal Maurice Johnson and Sergeant Robert Sherren. They assessed the situation and determined that Fish was in heart failure. Using the AED machine they carry in their squads, they applied an electric shock to the victim’s heart, then immediately followed through with CPR chest compressions. Adams explained that the AED machine provided advice on when to administer a shock. The officers followed the directives from their equipment and in their efforts administered an electric shock to the victim seven times.

With four officers on the scene, Adams said each one took turns in administering CPR chest compressions. The officers alternated electric shock and CPR, and Adams said in total they performed chest compressions on the victim for 8 minutes, in addition to the shock treatments.

Adams said the Lincoln Fire Department also arrived on the scene and provided oxygen for the victim. The Logan County Paramedics were quick to respond as well. After the paramedics had arrived, the officers continued their efforts while the paramedics worked to get the victim ready for transport to Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital for emergency treatment.


On the evening when the four officers were recognized, the young family of Matthew Fish was in the chamber councils and recounted the events of the night. Matthew was in cardiac arrest and his wife has no doubt that the quick response and the efforts of the four officers saved her husband’s life.

Johnson has also participated in the IL COPS event every year since arriving in Lincoln. He said in a 2013 interview that he felt that raising awareness for this group was very important to him personally, but he also wanted to represent well for his then new home town of Lincoln.

[Nila Smith]

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