Part of a highway will be named this week in honor of Tulsa Police Sgt. Craig Johnson who was murdered during a 2020 traffic stop.

Oklahoma Transportation Secretary Tim Gatz along with Tulsa Police Chief Wendall Franklin and Tulsa Police Major Mark Wollmershauser as well as Rep. Carol Bush will take part in the ceremony on Wednesday morning.

After the 10 a.m. ceremony in the Mingo Valley Division Community Room, 10122 E 11th street, a drive-by of Tulsa police units will be staged along that stretch of U.S. Highway 169 named in Johnson’s honor.

Signage for the Sgt. Craig Johnson Memorial Highway will be placed on the east side of US-169 just south of the East 81st St. interchange and on the west side of US-169 north of the East 51st St. interchange.

Under Senate Bill 624, passed by the Legislature earlier this year, the section of U.S. Highway 169 named after Sgt. Johnson runs from the intersection of East 81st Street South to the south side of State Highway 51 in Tulsa County and shall be designated as the “Sgt. Craig Johnson Memorial Highway.” SB624 went into effect Nov. 1.

It was June 2020 when Sgt Johnson and Officer Aurash Zarkeshan took part in a traffic stop and the shooting occurred. A trial date was recently set for the alleged shooter, David Ware. He is set to stand trial April 4, 2022 and if convicted, he could face the death penalty.

Source: House release