BRONX DISTRICT ATTORNEY CROSSES A MILESTONE IN COUNTY HISTORY

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson broke new historical ground last month when he became the longest serving District Attorney in County history. Mr. Johnson has held the office since January 1, 1989 when he became the first African-American District Attorney in New York State. His tenure is the longest since Samuel Foley served from March 16, 1933 until December 31, 1949.

Mr. Johnson was first elected in November 1988 to fill the three years remaining on the term of District Attorney Mario Merola who died in office. Voters then re-elected District Attorney Johnson to consecutive full four year terms in 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2003. In each of those elections, Mr. Johnson, although a registered Democrat, was also endorsed at various times by the Republican, Conservative and Liberal Parties.

Reflecting on the broad base of support that he has enjoyed over the past nearly seventeen years in office, Mr. Johnson said that he is “humbled by the trust that the people of the Bronx have placed in him, and gratified to have been given the opportunity to serve” particularly at a time in which New Yorkers have worked so hard to reverse what had been a trend of rising crime. Noting that the Bronx is safer now than it has been in decades, Mr. Johnson pointed out that homicides and auto theft, to cite two categories of crime, have declined 81% since 1990. The overall decline in other violent crimes since 1990, excluding homicide, was 69%. The dramatic turnaround said Mr. Johnson, “certainly has helped in putting the shine back on the Bronx”.

Mr. Johnson attributes his accomplishments in combating crime to “a balanced strategy in fighting crime that includes vigorous prosecution combined with innovative rehabilitative programs, anti crime education, and community outreach”.