Chief Brian Johnson Reflects on Upland Police Free Book Project

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(Newswire.net — April 11, 2018) La Verne, California –The community of Upland, California just got a little brighter for young people, thanks to the efforts of the Upland Police Department’s community initiatives. The Department joined forces with several other area organizations to create a free book program for community members. It has already been warmly received by area residents, who have flocked to the Department headquarters on West 13th Street in downtown Upland to select books from the dozens of choices. Captain Brian P. Johnson, a decorated police veteran and noted public speaker with the John Maxwell Group, applauds the Department’s community outreach efforts. “The Upland police and area organizations take community interests very seriously,” says Mr. Johnson. “The free books are a great way to connect with the young people in the Upland community, helping to promote literacy among tomorrow’s leaders.” To learn more about the free book program, visit https://www.dailybulletin.com/2016/01/27/free-books-now-at-the-upland-police-department/.

Representing the Inland Empire’s very first Little Free Library, the Upland Police Department partnered with The Literacy Club and with the Upland Community Partnership for Youth Development to create, build, and introduce the program. In recognition of the area’s history, the Little Free Library book trolley was styled like the Euclid Street Mule car, a trolley that once traversed Upland’s downtown corridor in the late 1800s. The idea for the book cart’s design was suggested by members of the law enforcement community and brought to life by Douglas and Jean Chadwick, the operators of The Literacy Club non-profit group. This isn’t the last community-oriented youth program the Department is supporting; the Department’s police chief says that additional partnerships with the Upland Unified School District will result in after-school programs and outreaches for area youth in the near future.

Books for the Little Free Library are supplied by generous donations from organizations and individuals throughout the Upland community. The Upland Police Department’s Explorers program is tasked with maintaining the book trolley and its collection, ensuring that young people will always have an ample supply of titles to choose from. Chief Brian Johnson says that programs like these are important for developing understanding between young people and the law enforcement community. “Today’s youth struggles to see the police as the ‘good guys’,” says Johnson. “Programs like the Upland Little Free Library build community goodwill, showing young people that the police do more than arrest criminals and that they are here to serve the people they are sworn to protect.” For more information on Mr. Johnson and his work in law enforcement and in his role as a certified trainer and life coach, visit http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/brianpjohnson/

About Chief Brian Johnson

Brian P. Johnson is a decorated law enforcement veteran with many years of experience to his credit. Throughout his career, he was tasked with shaping department policies and procedures, and helped develop future police leaders. Mr. Johnson served at high levels in a number of municipal police departments in Southern California before embarking on his new role as a certified coach and public speaker. Today, Brian works closely with the John Maxwell Group, helping others to achieve success in business and in leadership.

Chief Brian Johnson

P.O. Box
La Verne, California 91750
United States
(909) 596-6559
brianpjohnson6@gmail.com
http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/brianpjohnson/