Captain Steve Johnson has been with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department since 1989. At age 14, Steve began his career as a Law Enforcement Explorer. Accepting a position as a civilian employee, he quickly worked his way up the ranks and was named Captain of the Patrol Division in 2008.
Steve currently supervises the Criminal Investigation Section, the Drug Tactical Unit, Street Crimes Unit, Special Response Team (SWAT), Warrant Section, Evidence Section, DEA Taskforce Agent, Auto Theft Taskforce Agent, Courthouse Security and Domestic Violence Unit.
Steve has spent the last 12 years as the supervising Investigator specializing in Violent Felonies and Computer-Based Crimes and a Supervisor of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis. Steve has been the on scene Tactical and Administrative Commander in scenarios including barricaded murder suspects, hostage situations, suicide by cop incidents, jail disturbances and large civilian protests. Steve also excelled as a Drug Interdiction Officer and undercover assignments.
Decorated with over 35 Awards for Excellence in Law Enforcement, Steve is a graduate of the FBI’s prestigious National Academy (224th Session) and graduated from the 200 hour Police Training Board certified course, “Police Executive Role in the 21st Century” on Command Leadership. Steve also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Workforce Education from Southern Illinois University and earned his Master of Arts Degree in Computer Resources and Information Management Specializing in Personnel Management.
Steve is the Creator and Lead Instructor of the course “Surviving Hidden Weapons” which he instructs through the Department of Homeland Security’s FLETC-SLLETC. He is an Instructor with LifeLine Training, an Adjunct Professor for Southwestern Illinois College and Lindenwood University training curriculum related to Intro to Administration of Justice, Criminology, Criminalistics, Crime Scene Investigations, Cybercrime and Criminal Investigations. Steve is an Instructor with the Mobile Training Unit #14 and Southwestern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission.
Steve also teaches courses in Basic and Master Level Instructor Development, Leadership and Management, Defensive Tactics, Use of Force, Field Tactics, Tactical Planning, Dealing with Persons with Mental Illness, Workplace and School Violence, Threat Assessment and Safety Planning.