Community

RPAL to Rename Technology Center for Retired Police Captain Arthur Lee Johnson

On Saturday, April 20, the Richmond Police Activities League’s board of directors will host a dedication of the Technology Center officially naming it for retired Richmond Police Department Capt. Arthur Lee Johnson at 11 a.m. at 2200 Macdonald Ave. Retired RPD Captain Arthur Lee Johnson is a founding member of RPAL, having served on the board of directors since 1982. For his dedicated service to Richmond youths, RPAL will dedicate its Technology Center in his honor.

Published

1 year ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

Arthur Lee Johnson was a member of the Richmond Police Department for 25 years. Courtesy photo.

Special to The Post

Retired RPD Captain Arthur Lee Johnson is a founding member of RPAL, having served on the board of directors since 1982. For his dedicated service to Richmond youths, RPAL will dedicate its Technology Center in his honor.

Family, friends, and the community are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served.

Retired Captain Arthur Lee Johnson can be characterized as “Mr. Community Service.”

Johnson spent most of his professional career in law enforcement employed in the Richmond Police Department in California. On May 16, 1967, he was sworn in as an officer and rose through the ranks from patrolman to captain and acting chief before retiring after 25 years. However, RPAL was founded in 1982, Art was selected to become one of the charter members of its board of directors and has continued to serve and support the organization for the past 42 years.

His top priorities always include focusing on and providing needed services for the young people in the community, steering them in positive directions for life, which is a necessary tool of crime prevention. A few highlights of RPAL service include: Leader of RPAL fishing program, Shop with a COP, RPAL double-Dutch contest, annual golf tournament, carnival and all of RPAL’s fundraisers

Art attended school in the Bay Area, earning an Associate of Arts degree from Contra Costa College and Bachelor of Science degree from the University of San Francisco. Also, he has completed additional professional development courses at various universities, including training at the National F.B.1. Academy at Quantico, Virginia.

Even though Art’s primary career was in law enforcement, he served in the United States Air Force, became a MUNI driver in San Francisco and worked for the

U.S. Postal Service. He is widely known for his expertise in ballroom dancing, which he taught in Oakland Parks and Recreation and at the University of San Francisco. He modeled and was a choreographer for many cotillions in the Bay Area. Additionally, he taught law enforcement training classes at Los Medanos College.

During his career with RPD, he served in the following areas: patrol, juvenile detective, community relations, desk sergeant, property sergeant, Internal Affairs, Criminal Investigations commander, Special Services Bureau commander and RPD softball team

Art is also quite proud of his spiritual leadership. He is a member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church of Richmond, where his father was the pastor prior to his departure from this life.

There, he has been active in the following areas: Deacon board, Trustee board, Men of Power, Usher board, Stewardship Ministry, Male Chorus and Mass Choir.

Community service has included: RPAL, Kiwanis, Toastmaster’s, Guardians of Justice, Salvation Army bell ringer, Chamber-Men Who Cook, Noble, Bauf, and East Bay Captain’s Association.

Art resides in Richmond, California with his wife, Laura Johnson. He has two daughters, Shawna Morris (Learinza) and Karan Basey. There are eight grandchildren, Jazmyne, Roger, Angelique, Learinza, Leelee, Dezare, L’Xandrya, and Lars.

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The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

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OP-ED: Oregon Bill Threatens the Future of Black Owned Newspapers and Community Journalism

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Nearly half of Oregon’s media outlets are now owned by national conglomerates with no lasting investment in local communities. According to an OPB analysis, Oregon has lost more than 90 news jobs (and counting) in the past five years. These were reporters, editors and photographers covering school boards, investigating corruption and telling community stories, until their jobs were cut by out-of-state corporations.

Published

5 days ago

May 23, 2025

Oakland Post

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
President and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association

For decades, The Skanner newspaper in Portland, the Portland Observer, and the Portland Medium have served Portland, Oregon’s Black community and others with a vital purpose: to inform, uplift and empower. But legislation now moving through the Oregon Legislature threatens these community news institutions—and others like them.

As President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), which represents more than 255 Black-owned media outlets across the United States—including historic publications like The Skanner, Portland Observer, and the Portland Medium—l believe that some Oregon lawmakers would do more harm than good for local journalism and community-owned publications they are hoping to protect.

Oregon Senate Bill 686 would require large digital platforms such as Google and Meta to pay for linking to news content. The goal is to bring desperately needed support to local newsrooms. However, the approach, while well-intentioned, puts smaller, community-based publications at a future severe financial risk.

We need to ask – will these payments paid by tech companies benefit the journalists and outlets that need them most? Nearly half of Oregon’s media outlets are now owned by national conglomerates with no lasting investment in local communities. According to an OPB analysis, Oregon has lost more than 90 news jobs (and counting) in the past five years. These were reporters, editors, and photographers covering school boards, investigating corruption, and telling community stories, until their jobs were cut by out-of-state corporations.

Legislation that sends money to these national conglomerate owners—without the right safeguards to protect independent and community-based outlets—rewards the forces that caused this inequitable crisis in the first place. A just and inclusive policy must guarantee that support flows to the front lines of local journalism and not to the boardrooms of large national media corporations.

The Black Press exists to fill in the gaps left by larger newsrooms. Our reporters are trusted messengers. Our outlets serve as forums for civic engagement, accountability and cultural pride. We also increasingly rely on our digital platforms to reach our audiences, especially younger generations—where they are.

We are fervently asking Oregon lawmakers to take a step back and engage in meaningful dialogue with those most affected: community publishers, small and independent outlets and the readers we serve. The Skanner, The Portland Observer, and The Portland Medium do not have national corporate parents or large investors. And they, like many smaller, community-trusted outlets, rely on traffic from search engines and social media to boost advertising revenue, drive subscriptions, and raise awareness.

Let’s work together to build a better future for Black-owned newspapers and community journalism that is fair, local,l and representative of all Oregonians.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., President & CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association