Johnson Joins Wal-Mart Corporate Security

After 25 years on the Fayetteville Police Department — and two years as chief — Frank Johnson is leaving to become senior manager of corporate security for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. He will begin his new job on Sept. 5.

“I think it will be an exciting change,” Johnson said.

Johnson refers to it as a “retirement” from the Police Department, but at the age of 46, he’ll have a whole new career at Wal-Mart.

“From what I gather, Wal-Mart is a very dynamic organization, and if you relax, you relax on a schedule,” Johnson said. “I have friends who work for Wal-Mart, and they always speak positively about what they do.”

Johnson will work for Larry Lundeen, director of corporate services within the company’s Global Security department.

Lundeen said Johnson will be responsible for security at Wal-Mart’s 50 or so corporate offices across the United States. That includes protection of the facilities but primarily the people who work in those buildings.

“He brings a wealth of experience to our company through the leadership position that he held with the city of Fayetteville,” Lundeen said.

“Primarily, it’s a support role for some other divisions within Global Security,” Johnson said. “Security for Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart employees is multifaceted, so all the different divisions work as a team.”

Johnson grew up in Harvey, Ill., a suburb south of Chicago. He moved to Fayetteville in 1981.

“The decision I made to stay in Northwest Arkansas came when I decided I wanted to be a cop,” Johnson said. “I had some revisionist ideas about what police officers should be.”

Johnson said he found Fayetteville to be a progressive city in terms of hiring and promotions. He rose through the ranks from patrolman to sergeant to lieutenant to captain to chief.

Johnson said the Police Department shaped him to be the person he is today.

“I owe so much to this department,” Johnson said. “I would not be the person I am now if not for the Fayetteville Police Department. My parents provided the foundation, but there’s a certain maturation you go through to be a cop.”

And that maturation level is ratcheted up to be police chief.

“You never know what it’s going to be like to be chief until you fill that role,” Johnson said. “Then the weight of accountability and responsibility — you feel that weight. When you become chief, you can’t allow any personal biases, bad habits or insecurities to encumber your decisions, in order to become an effective leader.”

The FPD has 191 employees, including 121 uniformed police officers.

Johnson said he feels very comfortable with Wal-Mart’s philosophy and believes it will mesh with the public service he has devoted his life to.