2012 Award for Merit

Captain John Adams from the University of California Los Angeles

In 1983, Johnnie Adams was hired as a student worker at the UCLA Police Department. Upon graduation he attended the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Academy and became a UCLA Police Department officer where he has served throughout his entire career.

Over the years, Captain Adams has served in almost all the positions available in the department. He is known for being proactive and creative in problem solving while never forgetting that the safety of the campus community is of foremost importance.

Captain Adams is fully committed to the UCLA mission of community policing. He has valuable relationships with campus community members and students. A number of crime prevention programs were initiated by him. Recently, he negotiated and is now guiding the implementation of a computer tracking software program being made available, free, to the UCLA community. This effort will combat recent problems with laptop thefts and provides an opportunity for UCPD staff to work with various campus groups with crime prevention and education.

Captain Adams has worked extensively to combat domestic terrorism as it relates to animal rights extremists. UCLA has experienced numerous incidents involving animal rights extremists. Several researchers were targeted with threats and experienced arson involving their vehicles and homes. UCLA took leadership in working on a comprehensive program with groups, such as Joint Terrorism Task Force, local area law enforcement and fire agencies, and the District and City Attorney offices to combat these threats through criminal investigations, civil procedures and education. The efforts of the department led to the first of its kind arrest and conviction of two activists who were targeting researchers at their homes. Both individuals were convicted of felony criminal threats. The department has also been proactive with numerous misdemeanor arrests for violations at targeted demonstrations, excessive noise and other minor offenses. This ongoing tactic is directly related to UCLA not experiencing any violent acts in approximately two years and has not had a home demonstration in over six months. Captain Adams’ approach has become a model for several universities around the country. UCLA is proud that his expertise is routinely sought to present on this topic at national law enforcement and related professional organizations.

Captain Adams currently holds a bachelors of arts in political science from UCLA, an executive management certificate from the Anderson School at UCLA and is a proud graduate of the 222nd Session of the FBI National Academy Associates. Johnnie has been active with the National Academy Associates since his graduation in 2005 and is currently on the National Executive Board of the FBI National Academy Associates as the Section 1 Representative and a Past President of the California Chapter.

Nominated by UCLA Police Department Director Nancy Greenstein