LOGAN — A Logan City Police detective is being nationally recognized for her work in local elementary schools. Leticia Johnson is receiving the 2025 Floyd Ledbetter National School Resource Officer of the Year Award from The National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO).
In an interview with News Talk KVNU, Johnson said she is still in shock but super excited about the recognition. She had no idea that the staff at Adam’s Elementary School had even nominated her until she was invited to an assembly on April 15.
“I was asking what this assembly was for but nobody had any idea,” explained Johnson. “I started thinking something was going on but I never could have imagined it was what it was. The kids were there. My husband and mother came, along with some other family and everyone from the police department. It was amazing and really cool. I was shocked.”
The award recognizes school resource officers (SROs) who have made specific and significant contributions to their local communities or school districts. The association will present the award on July 7, during a ceremony as part of its annual National School Safety Conference in Grapevine, Texas.
NASRO executive director Mo Canady said, “Detective Johnson’s commitment to the well-being and personal growth of students goes far beyond her assigned duties. She launched a Lunch with a Cop program, which identifies and rewards students who exhibit kindness, integrity and responsibility — students who might otherwise go unnoticed.”
Johnson said she launched the program this year and has loved the chance of taking students out to lunch with another sergeant. She tries to turn the simple meal into a powerful moment of recognition and encouragement.
“We go and have lunch somewhere for about an hour or so, just talking and hanging out,” explained Johnson. “It’s something super casual. I let them know ‘you are doing awesome, you are doing great and sometimes you might think anybody notices but they are. People notice you and this is a reward for your hard work.’”
Canady said several letters of nomination mentioned Johnson’s exemplary teaching of a 13-week “Nurturing, Opportunities, Values, Accountability” course (NOVA) to the fifth-grade students at the six elementary schools she serves. She uses this platform to build meaningful relationships with every student with whom she interacts, taking time to engage with them individually and offering a level of mentorship that leaves a lasting impact.
For Johnson, working in the schools is a way to influence children’s lives in the same way she was impacted as a kid. Growing up in Hyrum, one of her fondest memories as a student was getting to interact with Cache County Sheriff’s deputies.
“I remember going to lunch with the deputies when I was in elementary school and it was an impactful time in my life,” stated Johnson. “I said, ‘I want to be a police officer when I grow up and hopefully do something similar and give kids the same feeling and opportunity that I had.’”
Canady said, “Detective Johnson clearly embodies the spirit of service, compassion and dedication that our SRO of the Year award seeks to honor.”