PRESS RELEASE

International Union of Police Associations

Statement of President Cabral Regarding I.U.P.A. Member Being Awarded 2025 Union Plus Scholarship

The International is pleased to share that an I.U.P.A. member has been awarded the Union Plus Scholarship this year. The I.U.P.A. works hard to ensure that our members and their families enjoy the best benefits possible and this is one example of those important benefits paying off.

Mr. Steve Johnson of the State of Washington is a member of Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs Law Enforcement Associates, I.U.P.A. Local 27, and he has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.

Deputy Johnson is enrolled in the HCC substance use disorder professional Associate of Arts online program and expects to graduate in March 2028. He has been a law enforcement officer since 1999, currently as a deputy for the King County [Washington] Sheriff’s Office (KCSO). He is a married father of four children and grateful I.U.P.A. member. He plans to retire from law enforcement within five years and transition to help with running the First Responder Intensive Outpatient Program at a local substance abuse treatment center. His motivation for the next stage of his career is deeply personal as he has been working on self-improvement for five years. “I am a staunch advocate for first responders who are looking to battle their demons and work toward a life of wellness,” he stated. “Life is good now, and I am healthy again. I have become a champion for those in the first responder community who can’t advocate for themselves. I look forward to working full time as a drug and alcohol counselor when I retire from law enforcement in a few years.”

Since late 2020, Deputy Johnson has been a call taker with Code 4 NW, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that provides behavioral health resources for first responders and their family members in Washington State. Code 4 NW Operations Director Nick Bauer, a retired Seattle Police sergeant, said that Deputy Johnson is a classic example of someone who faced substantial challenges from repeated exposure to trauma. “About five years ago, Steve contacted Code 4 to request help,” Bauer said. “I have a term — student of recovery

— that I use to describe clients who jump headfirst into recovery and follow all necessary steps to get back to a healthy and productive person. Steve is an ‘A’ student of recovery. Now, he is one of our most valued assets as an advanced needs advisor, trainer, and follow-up companion. I consider him one of our most dedicated volunteers and am happy to see him pursuing a higher level of ability to help his cohorts find a similarly successful path to recovery. Steve will be a strong advocate for first responder wellness and recovery for decades into the future.”

The International joins with Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs Law Enforcement Associates, I.U.P.A. Local 27, and all of the I.U.P.A. to congratulate this inspiring and impressive law enforcement professional on this auspicious accomplishment.