A truck with images of Memphis officer Demetrice Johnson is seen during Wednesday’s Sea of Blue event on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. Johnson had been with the police department since May 2023. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at Oak Grove. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)
Civilians gather to show respect during Wednesday’s Sea of Blue event. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)
A flag is raised in honor of Memphis Police Department officer Demetrice Johnson, a Chicago native assigned to the North Main precinct. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)
Memphis police officers line up motorcycles with blue lights flashing in honor of Demetrice Johnson, who died following a car crash on Aug. 2. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)
Melanie and Jimmy Busch hold up a flag in respect while watching Wednesday’s Sea of Blue event. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)
The event began at 8 p.m. at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 7289 Stage Road and continued to the North Main Station, 444 N Main St. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)
Officers line up at the start of Wednesday’s Sea of Blue event at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)
Members of the Memphis Fire Department raise a flag during the Memphis Police Department’s Sea of Blue event on Aug. 14, 2024. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)
Ranks of police on motorcycles file past in the Sea of Blue event Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)
As the sun sinks into the Mississippi River Aug. 14, Memphis police officers show their respect for Demetrice Johnson. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)
‘Sea of Blue’ honors Memphis officer killed in car crash
The Memphis Police Department hosted a Sea of Blue event Wed., Aug. 14, for Officer Demetrice Johnson, who died following a car crash earlier this month. Johnson, 34, died Aug. 2 after a car crash with a civilian, Rantavious Johnson, 22, who also died. A second officer, Bobby Fields, was critically injured.