Officers recognized after enduring Poplar Bluff shooting in July 2018

Ben Matthews

Thursday, July 9, 2020

A ceremony was held in front of the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. Federal Courthouse in Cape Girardeau on Thursday, July 9, 2020, to honor seven officers involved in the July 2018 arrest of James O’Dell Johnson in Poplar Bluff. U.S. Attorney Jeffrey B. Jensen presented recognitions to SEMO Drug Task Force officer Michael Alford, Poplar Bluff police officer Austin Lemonds, Deputy U.S. Marshal Michael Miller, Perry County Sheriff deputy Delbert Riehn and Deputy U.S. Marshal H. Cameron Thuirer; and also recognized SEMO Drug Task Force officers Corey Mitchell and Jason Morgan who were unable to attend. U.S. Marshal John Jordan and U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. also spoke at the ceremony and praised the officers for their honor and service.

Poplar Bluff police officer Austin Lemonds receives a hug after being recognized at a ceremony Thursday, July 9, 2020, at the Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. Federal Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
From right, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey B. Jensen recognizes Deputy U.S. Marshal Michael Miller during a ceremony Thursday, July 9, 2020, at the Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. Federal Courthouse in Cape Girardeau as U.S. Marshal John Jordan and Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. stand in attendance. The ceremony was held to recognize the officers involved in a warrant arrest July 2018 in Poplar Bluff during which James Odell Johnson Jr. opened fire and struck Miller in his ballistic shield, SEMO Drug Task Force officer Corey Mitchell in his arm and SEMO Drug Task Force officer Michael Alford in his bulletproof vest. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Deputy U.S. Marshal H. Cameron Thuirer, left, is recognized during a ceremony Thursday, July 9, 2020, at the Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. Federal Courthouse in Cape Girardeau to honor the seven officers involved in the July 2018 arrest of James O'Dell Johnson in Poplar Bluff. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
From left, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey B. Jensen recognizes SEMO Drug Task Force officer Michael Alford during a ceremony Thursday, July 9, 2020, at the Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. Federal Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. The ceremony was held to recognize the officers involved in a warrant arrest July 2018 in Poplar Bluff during which James Odell Johnson, Jr., opened fire and struck Alford in his bulletproof vest, SEMO Drug Task Force officer Corey Mitchell in his arm and Deputy U.S. Marshal Michael Miller in his ballistic shield. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Perry County Sheriff's deputy and captain of operations Delbert Riehn shakes hands with U.S. Attorney Jeffrey B. Jensen during a ceremony Thursday, July 9, 2020, at the Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. Federal Courthouse in Cape Girardeau to recognize the seven officers involved in the July 2018 arrest of James O'Dell Johnson in Poplar Bluff. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
U.S. Attorney Jeffrey B. Jensen speaks during a ceremony Thursday, July 9, 2020, at the Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. Federal Courthouse in Cape Girardeau to recognize the seven officers involved in the July 2018 arrest of James O'Dell Johnson in Poplar Bluff. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
U.S. Marshal and former Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan speaks during a ceremony Thursday, July 9, 2020, at the Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. Federal Courthouse in Cape Girardeau to honor the seven officers involved in the July 2018 arrest of James O'Dell Johnson in Poplar Bluff. "Countless individuals are prevented from becoming the next victims when you all do the work that you do," Jordan said. "These arrests are preventing the next armed robbery, sex crime, and/or murder; and when the Fugitive Task Force makes these arrests, they're heroes." (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. speaks to the crowd during a ceremony Thursday, July 9, 2020, at the Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. Federal Courthouse in Cape Girardeau to honor the seven officers involved in the July 2018 arrest of James O'Dell Johnson in Poplar Bluff. The federal judge praised the officers for their "exemplary training and competence" in enduring the "harrowing" encounter without anyone being killed or seriously injured. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
From left, Perry County Sheriff deputy Delbert Riehn, Deputy U.S. Marshal H. Cameron Thuirer, Poplar Bluff police officer Austin Lemonds, Deputy U.S. Marshal Michael Miller and SEMO Drug Task Force officer Michael Alford pose for a photo Thursday, July 9, 2020, at the Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. Federal Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. The ceremony was held to recognize the officers for their involvement in the apprehension of James Odell Johnson, Jr. who opened fire at police during a warrant arrest in July 2018. SEMO Drug Task Force officers Corey Mitchell and Jason Morgan were also recognized but were unable to attend the ceremony. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)