Deputy chief steps down Monday
By TANYA EISERER / Abilene Reporter-News
Deputy Chief Noel Johnston, Abilene's oldest and most tenured police officer, steps down Monday after nearly 33 years with the department.
"Noel knows everything about the department, especially in the computer area," Chief Melvin Martin said. "He is just a real asset."
A 2 p.m. reception today at the Law Enforcement Center will honor the 56-year-old Johnston.
"When I started here, we had two-channel radios and only one channel worked," Johnston said. "Now we have 16-channel radios, on-board computers and cell phones."
Since February 1994, Johnston has headed the support services division, which includes communications, records, training and identification.
"If you look at all of our command staff, anyone would tell you that Noel has more experience and a better grasp than most other people," said Lt. Jim Berry, who will assume Johnston's position. "He's done a little bit of everything."
"He actually helped build our communications system," Berry added. "That kind of experience is hard to replace."
Johnston, who was reared in California, met his wife-to-be while he was living in Amarillo. He and Dianne were married in 1962. They have three daughters.
They eventually settled in Abilene. Johnston, who has many family members in law enforcement, joined the police department in November 1964.
"I was always interested in law enforcement," Johnston said. "I thought I would probably stay in Abilene a year and then move to the Metroplex."
Johnston has worked in every division except the detectives squad and youth. He was a patrolman and motorcycle cop in the '60s and '70s.
He was promoted to sergeant in 1978 and to lieutenant in 1980. He supervised the building of the training academy and helped plan new radio and phone systems.
In 1994, he was promoted to deputy chief. Martin credited Johnston with bringing stability to the support services division.
"There were things that needed to be done and he has done that," Martin said. "Noel is just such a dependable person."
The Johnstons have built a home in Burleson, located south of Fort Worth, where they can be closer to their daughters.
Dianne, who retired from her job as a sixth-grade English teacher at Lincoln Middle School in 1996, has already moved.
"It's 167 miles doorstep to doorstep," quipped Johnston, who has been commuting every weekend.
Johnston plans a second career, but he's not sure what it will be just yet.
"This is a good time to retire," he said. "It's warm.
It's sunny."