After 34 years and 10 months with the Aberdeen Police Department, Capt. Dave Johnson retired on Friday.

Johnson was born and raised in Aberdeen, and graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1981. He was hired at the department in 1984, and is described in a police press release as a very proactive officer, known for seeking out and arresting a lot of “bad guys” and working a lot of traffic enforcement.

After working as a field training officer and as K-9 handler and SWAT team member, he was promoted to captain in 1996, returning from the County Drug Task Force. He also was a 2000 graduate of the FBI National Academy.

As a captain, Johnson had lead every section in the department. He initially was the Special Assignments Captain, where he oversaw the Records Section, jail operations and senior volunteer program. He was the Patrol Captain for a while before moving to the Investigations Captain from 2004 until 2009. He returned to patrol command in 2009, where he has overseen field operations ever since.

“Our department loses a wealth of knowledge, skills and abilities with Captain Johnson’s retirement,” the press release said.

He has also been recognized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars as their Police Officer of the Year. In 1993 he, along with Officer Monte Glaser, was awarded a Department Lifesaving Award and the Washington State Firefighters Association Lifesaving Award for placing himself in great jeopardy to save a man from a house fire near Lake Aberdeen.

Johnson is an avid Harley Davidson rider, who plans to ride around the United States and see more of the country, the press release said.