Proclamation: Officer of the Month

Dec 9th, 2008

Mayor Sam Jones honored Officer Johnny Thornton Jr. as Officer of the Month for November (2008). Officer Thornton joined the Mobile Police Department in 2007 and is currently assigned to the Third Precinct. Officer Thornton has been selected officer of the month for his exemplary performance and dedication to duty during the month of November.

On November 6, 2008, Officer Thornton attempted to stop a vehicle that had a switched tag in the area of Dauphin Street and Carlen Street. The vehicle refused to stop and initiated a pursuit. During the pursuit, dispatchers advised that the tag displayed tag was reported stolen. The pursuit ended in the Toulminville area where Officer Thornton observed the occupants of the vehicle throw a black revolver handgun out of the vehicle near Bragg Avenue and Pleasant Avenue. Additional units found and secured the handgun. The vehicle turned down Angel Street, which is a dead end street. The driver drove the vehicle to the end of the street at which time he bailed from it and proceeded to flee on foot. A perimeter was established and the subject was eventually found hiding underneath a residence on Clinton Street. The recovered pistol was stolen and an amount of crack cocaine was found in the suspect’s vehicle. The subject was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, No Pistol Permit, two counts of Receiving Stolen Property Third Degree and also had several active warrants on file including numerous traffic citations.

On November 11, 2008 Officer Thornton and Officer Franks responded to Leflore High School in reference to a shooting that occurred approximately 15 minutes prior to the call. The victim had been transported by personal vehicle to the University of South Alabama Medical Center. The officers responded to determine the location of the crime scene. While canvassing the area, Officer Thornton observed a vehicle matching the description of one he had stopped on the previous date in which the witness to another shooting had been riding in prior to the BOLO that had been issued. Officers stopped the vehicle for investigative purposes. When officers approached the vehicle, Officer Thornton observed a black Mossberg shotgun laying in plain view on the backseat. Both occupants were removed and investigative “pat downs” were conducted for officer’s safety. The passenger was found to have two corner-bags of marijuana in his possession. The recovered shotgun was found to be loaded with six cartridges including one inside the chamber. The vehicle was stopped inside the gate in the rear parking lot of the school following a basketball game. The driver was charged with Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess a Firearm and the passenger was charged with Possession of Marijuana Second Degree.

On November 12, 2008, Officer Thornton observed litter being thrown from a vehicle in the area of St. Stephens Road and White Avenue. Officer Thornton subsequently stopped the vehicle. As he approached the vehicle which was occupied by four subjects, he observed the front seat passenger consuming an alcoholic beverage. Officer Thornton had the driver and all occupants exit the vehicle. While removing remaining beer containers from inside the vehicle for purposes of destruction, Officer Thornton found a small plastic bag containing powder cocaine and a small glass bottle containing some liquid located in a small slot located in the dashboard near the front passenger’s side. Poison Controlled identified the substance in the glass bottle as Anabolic Steroid, a controlled prescription medication. The front passenger was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance.

On November 19, 2008, Officer Thornton observed a white Chevrolet Impala traveling eastbound on Airport Boulevard above the speed limit. Officer Thornton conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle on Airport Boulevard at Williams Street. While approaching the vehicle on the passenger side; looking into the vehicle from outside with his flashlight, he observed a clear plastic bag containing marijuana in a pouch on the back of the passenger seat and one on the back floor board of the vehicle. The occupant of the vehicle was placed into custody. As Officer Thornton was conducting an inventory of the vehicle, he found two more large clear bags of marijuana and $682.00 in U.S. currency banded together in the center console. Narcotics Officers responded to the scene and took control of the evidence and the investigation.

During the month, Officer Thornton serviced 116 calls for service, including 56 backing calls. He was responsible for 9 felony arrest and 32 misdemeanor arrests and issued 62 traffic citations. Officer Thornton is a highly motivated police officer that seeks optimal results in every aspect of his job. His persistent attention to his job and self-initiation helps contributes to the continuous success of the Mobile Police Department.