SMITHFIELD – Ronald Johnson, a detective on the Smithfield police force, was fired from his job Friday, October 14. Johnson had been on administrative leave following his suspension from the department in July 2022.
Today (Monday), Town Manager Michael Scott confirmed Mr. Johnson was terminated October 14 from his law enforcement position. His two-page dismissal letter was also released.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE OCT. 14, 2022 TERMINATION LETTER
The termination letter stated in part that, “On Wednesday, October 5, 2022, you met with Police Chief Robert K. Powell and Town Human Resources Director Tim Kerigan. During this meeting, you were informed that Chief Powell would be recommending your termination to me based on violations of Town Handbook Section 37(b) and Police Department General Orders Section 201 regarding standards of conduct. You were also informed regarding a personal matter in which you obtained a 50C no contact order when you knew, or should have known based on your years of experience, that the correct order was a 50B no contact order.”
“On October 6, 2022, a news article in the JoCo Report was published regarding allegations that you sent inappropriate texts of a sexual nature about a female school employee. The article referenced you had been censured by the Johnston County Public School Board… I informed you that I believed that this conduct could rise to a level of Detrimental Personal Conduct… and could result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from your position with the Smithfield Police Department and the Town of Smithfield.”
“Based on my review of the relevant information, including the recommendation of Chief Powell, the documents that you provided to Chief Powell and myself, and the recent news articles, this letter serves as notification that you are being terminated from your Police Department position with the Town of Smithfield effective immediately on Friday, October 14, 2022.”
The two page termination letter said Johnson can appeal the decision. He has until October 21, 2022 to request a Name Clearing Hearing.
Johnson had been a Smithfield police officer for 17 years. He was elected to the Johnston County Public School Board in 2016 and reelected in 2020. His seat is up for reelection in 2024.
Well, well, well…your so called voice and champion of the children of JoCo. So are y’all going to continue to support this fraud? I feel for RonJohn’s supporters. You have been deceived by a master manipulator. Always remember: The TRUTH has no agenda. Do the right thing and earn some respect Mr. Johnson: resign your seat at the Board of Education immediately.
You’re 15 minutes of fame are over RonJon, time to leave the stage
Our Honorable Ronald Johnson has done a hell of a job at ripping the liberal, progressive, woke, cancell culture democrat masks off the rest of this school board! Folks, the rest of this school board tried hard at hiding their true identity. But when the Honorable Ronald Johnson ripped off thier masks they went right to the liberal progressive democrat national play book in developing our own local Johnston County January 6 public hearing to remove and save the CRT, Woke, Transgender book reading Drag Queen school board majority from the Honorable Ronald Johnson. Folks, these ultra leftist democrats now feel that if our DA Susan Doyle doesn’t charge the Honorable Ronald Johnson with something they must remove him by any means before the election flips this school board. The end justifies the means, you parents and taxpayers have gotten to close in savings your children? Your children deserve the same indoctrination that children are getting in San Francisco, Chicago and Durham County and this school board now feels they have the moral obligation to eliminate the man that got more votes than any sitting school board member by any mean available. Thank you for a hell of a fight Honorable Ronald Johnson and we will vote you in when all the rest are long gone.
Terry, you’re just way out there. Stop drinking the TRUMP Kool aid.
Terry, I agree with you 100%. Ronald Johnson has upset the democrats and they will do whatever to try and destroy him and his reputation.
I also believe anyone should be able to record any and all meetings that they are attending. In doing so, a lot of the he said/she said things are verifiable. Without the recordings, the guilty parties always deny ever saying those things. I am so glad Ronald recorded those meetings.
As a former die hard democrat, I can definitely see through them all now. I know from personal experience how they work.
You can believe all you want, still doesn’t make it true. And this really has nothing to do with Rep and Dems but with a dishonest person who has show many times he should not be serving the people and children of this community.
I ageee with you!!!
What a joke you are. Guess ole RonJohn won’t be sheriff like he has always wanted.
Your 15 minutes of fame are over RonJon, time to leave the stage
Jimmy is a fine one to be pointing fingers!
They should investigate every case he was a part of to make sure more civilians were not a victim of his actions.
Where are the defenders. terrybarnes? Bret??
I’m here. What’s to defend? Ronald f’d up and there were consequences.
RJ stand tall and tell it all! A few others fame should be over as well!
Ronald Johnson is human. Was he preoccupied and make idiotic mistakes…yes. However, that does not mean that he can’t continue to do a good job when serving Smithfield residents or Johnston County students. I believe that he is sincere when protecting people as a detective and advocating for our students. The inappropriate relationship that occurred with a female Johnston Co. teacher is something that should be between him and his wife(I am sure that other PD staff and Board members have dealt with the same situation…it just wasn’t made public). Has that teacher been addressed….she still has influence over Jo. Co students.
Any inappropriate relationship should be between him and his wife … but these texts were made while at meetings of the board about someone in attendance! That crosses over a line to where it no longer is between him, his wife and the lady he was sending texts about. Instead of thinking of the children and the school system he was preoccupied with how a dress fit on a lady who was not his wife attending the meetings. Classless behavior and not the type of thing the citizens of johnston county elected him to do on county time.
Everything’s politics on here. If Kay Carrol sent these texts the very ones defending RonJon would be blasting him. Dude’s objectifying women with a buddy over texts while he’s supposed to be considering the education of our youth. Then he doubled down and instead of apologizing claimed it was “a running joke”. I’m sure the female in question is thrilled to be drooled over by texts between two grown ******** who can’t keep their eye on the ball while “serving the public”. It’s pathetic.
I would take the SAME position if Kay Carroll was the subject of discussion!!!! He is a wonderful pharmacist that has done great things for the community and some acts of stupidity could never diminish that. Humans commit stupid and classless acts(as I am sure that the female in question didn’t attend those meetings to speak on behalf of her students)….
So he was terminated from the police office because of he conduct at the board ? Wow. Do I hear law suit ?
in part. He also used police department equipment to record board meetings… a misappropriation on taxpayer paid equipment. In addition… police officers know (or should) that they cannot lie. He lied to his superiors, in addition to lying to the court when getting a 50B instead of a 50B. He was dishonest and that falls under police department policy for truthfulness and conduct un becoming an officer.
Columbo gonna have to trade in the coat and tape recorder for a Hawaiian shirt so he can chase skirts Magnum PI style
He was fired for making an inappropriate comment about a woman’s dress? Please tell me there is more to this story that I am missing. Right?
Maybe terry and ole Ron the snakes should go in hibernation for the winter
Hmm, one can’t help but wonder why that story involving a school attorney and a JCPS administrator at a local school never got this much attention. Once upon a time us adults could maintain a level of professionalism and common sense regardless of who we liked or disliked. Can anyone honestly name a past or current board member who truly put the best interests of the kids and taxpayers first like Ron has? It’s time we finally realize politician’s are no different than tv evangelist’s with the power of manipulation. Based solely on his job as a board member, I stand with Ron!
@Roy: “Based solely on his job as a board member…” you’ve got to be joking, right? He swore an oath when he took his seat to abide by the rules and regulations. Then violated that oath. How can you (or anyone else) believe him? He is no different than any other politician and he needs to go. Unfortunately, JoCo voters have a LONG history of voting against their own best interests. I’m afraid that he (and 90% of the other county-wide incumbents) will have no problem being re-elected. #YouReapWhatYouSow #VoteOutTheIncumbents
Yes. Mike Wooten.
See Ya Ronnie!!!!!!
The guy is so unethical. Time to put what’s good for the county and school system over blind loyalty to this flawed man and his politics.
Months too late to avoid the fastest-growing not-a-bedroom-anymore county in the state, with all its development and promise, from living up to its good ol’ Joco moniker. The people who could have forced him to resign and begun an investigation MONTHS ago, and the fact that they didn’t, letting this needless soap opera become such a spectacle are the reason the 90s radio tropes from the likes of Bob and the Showgram start playing in your head again, about how bass ackwards some in power in this county still are.
How come he got fired for not doing a crime, but you have a police officer at another police department still working after getting charge with carrying a concealed gun while being drunk?
Ask that police dept. What a stupid comment
Honestly, what has gone on that we don’t know about? He exposed crookedness within our board. Why aren’t you upset about that? Who anymore doesn’t have something someone thinks they crossed the line within their relationship with spouse. He still did his job! I pray it’s something he & the Mrs can work thru and has a better marriage and he excels and does better for others! Thank you, Ron Johnson!!!! It’s our kids that suffer! Drama, everyone loves drama, keep it stirred. Hope all your noses are clean!!!!
He’s part of the good ole boy’s network. These nuts in JoCo will defend him till the end no matter what he’s done.
John you mention the good old boys often in your posts. Are you jealous because you’ll never be one? My guess is you just can’t elevate the discussion.
He’s definitely not part of that network he is a want to be.