National Crisis Intervention Training Institute, Inc.
National Crisis Intervention Training Institute, Inc.
Joel Johnson
Motivational Speaker / Law Enforcement Instructor, Christian Comedian
Nationally sought as a speaker and trainer, Joel Johnson offers a rare, hard-hitting combination of humor and sobering reality. Through his work in the National Crisis Intervention Training Institute, Joel offers training and technical assistance to law enforcement, clinical personnel, and other helping professionals. He is the Author and Lead Instructor for over 30 law enforcement training courses currently accredited by the State of Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training.
He has recently retired from active-duty law enforcement, having served with Norman (OK) Police Department, Mid-America Christian University Police Department, Northwestern Oklahoma State University Police Department, and Luther (OK) Police Department.
Through the auspices of NCITI’s M*A*S*H Unit, and the Notes of Adam’s Song program, he provides support services to "wounded healers, helpers, and heroes" who have suffered the devastating emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual effects of the extraordinary stress of their professions.
Speaking candidly as a "former, card-carrying member of 'The Walking Wounded' Brigade," he offers his own testimony, and a message of hope born out of his personal experience, of how the Lord Jesus can bring his children from tragedy to triumph. As a parental survivor, who suffered the death of his son, Adam, in 2009, Joel also provides support services to other parents who have lost a child.
From 2010 to 2020, he wrote a biography/autobiography entitled, “The Notes of Adam’s Song: A Surviving Parent’s Journey through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.” The popular book was published in 2020, and is read by clinical professionals, pastoral counselors, and especially parental survivors, as well as family and friends who care for them.
On the lighter side, through the medium of stand-up comedy, with topics such as “The Day I Got My Cape,” “Doing Christian Stuff,” and“Balaam and the Other Donkey,” he offers a humorous, yet poignant view of life’s challenges and successes, striving to assist the listeners in discovering their potential, talents, personality style, life’s calling, and personal intercessory responsibility as members of the Body of Christ…as well as illustrating that “Sense of Humor” is one of the most important of God’s Character Traits, when it comes to how “being created in the Image of God” plays an all-important part in our emotional and psychological survival in the face of life’s trials and tragedies.
Oh, and he is also an accomplished clarinetist, and a veteran “Busker,” who has played his horn on the streets of New York City and Chicago. Who knows? If you play your cards just right…he just might lay a little “Dixie Swing” or “Easy Listening” rendition of “Up the Lazy River” on you. You just never know.
For over forty years, Joel has been combating child victimization by conducting training workshops and seminars for hundreds of audiences, including law enforcement, social services, medical, and clinical professionals representing a wide variety of disciplines, church congregations, as well as parents and youth.
As a former paramedic, youth crisis counselor, addictions professional, and police detective who investigated crimes against children, Joel has acquired a uniquely-rounded perspective of the clinical, social, and legal issues related to these problems. In 1996, Joel organized the National Child Abuse Task Force, which was later expanded into the National Crisis Intervention Training Institute.
His formal education includes more than six-thousand hours of specialized professional training. He also holds a B.A. degree in Sociology from Oklahoma Baptist University(1976), as well as an M.A.Ed. degree from University of Phoenix (2000), and is currently on educational sabbatical, taking a break from pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Behavioral Sciences at Capella University.
Joel has been invited to present at many state, regional, and national conferences for organizations such as Big Brothers / Big Sisters of America, Inc., South Carolina Juvenile Officers Association, Children’s Rights of America, Inc., and Court Appointed Special Advocates. He was one of a handful of presenters from the United States to be invited to present workshops at the 1st Annual International Focus on Children Conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and has past served as advisor for U.S. Dept. of Justice' Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the U.S. Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. He has taught specialized training courses for the State of Hawaii Department of Human Services, Honolulu Police Department, and Maui Police Department, among many others.
Joel has appeared as a guest on many local, syndicated, and nationally-broadcast Christian and secular radio and television programs. He has received many awards and commendations, including having received five departmental commendations as a police detective, three honorary police department commissions, a special award from the City of Charleston, SC, for his efforts in protecting endangered children, as well as, hundreds of letters of commendation and appreciation from police departments, social services agencies, churches, civic groups, colleges and universities, and youth organizations.
Joel currently resides in Norman, Oklahoma with his beautiful, blushing bride, Barb, as well as Simba, Monkey, and Punchbowl (a.k.a. “Hairy Houdini” Johnson), an amazing cat who thinks he’s a dog.
Excerpts from Letters of Commendation and Appreciation
“Joel demonstrates some of the most insightful interviewing techniques I have observed in my law enforcement career.”
John Duncan, PhD University of Oklahoma Norman, OK
“Joel’s training was among the best I have experienced in my career as a clinical psychologist.”
Nick Growth, PhD Clinical Psychologist, Author of “Men Who Rape.”
“Mr. Johnson exhibits superior communication skills, and exemplary leadership.”
Mark Lahue, Lieutenant Oklahoma City University Police Department
“’The Notes of Adam’s Song’ touched me deeply…to my core. Joel, I want to thank you so much for your friendship and deep commitment to the cause of healing. Thank you for sharing this very special journey of healing with the world.”
James Bogan, MSW, LCWS Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Winter Park, FL
“I highly recommend this book to be read by parents and family members, as well as professionals who assist them. [Joel’s] pain is expressed in real terms, and the hope of recovery and healing is instilled in the reading.”
;Leon Desecottier, PhD, EdD, LPC, LADC/MH Departmental Chair, School of Psychology Mid-America Christian University
“God has given Joel a special burden for ministering to those who serve others in the public sector. [His] presentation combines special humor and enjoyable insight. He gives his own testimony in regard to Christ’s transforming power in his life…Our people were greatly blessed and challenged by his presentation. He is great with young people, but adults of all ages appreciate his zeal and the gifted ministry God has given him.”
Pastor Charles Nickel Southern Heights Bible Church Springfield, MO
“…During my 30 years in this field I have participated in many training programs…the training presented by Mr. Johnson was among the best I have experienced.”
Nicholas Groth, Ph.D. Co-Founder, Forensic Mental Health Associates, Inc.
Author, Men Who Rape
“I am amazed at Joel’s sensitivity and skill in dealing with surviving parents.”
D.P. “Pat Hutton,” Founder, Hutton’s Edge.
“It was truly an enlightening and rewarding experience to work with an instructor that related his subject with such interest and enthusiasm…the course, as a whole, was one of the most well organized and well taught courses I’ve attended.”
Ronald E. Hansen, Chief of Police Fayetteville, NC Police Department
“It is obvious that his enthusiasm and compassion toward protecting children is not only a strong professional commitment, but a deeply personal one. Our community and state are indeed fortunate to have a professional with such integrity and sensitivity.”
Joy Leuthard, M.S. Director, Sexual Assault Program Women’s Resource Center(Norman, OK) Author, Sexual Assault: A Guide for Professionals
“Your expertise in the topic of ‘Street Drugs’ was most beneficial to the emergency responders attending the lecture. They have chosen your topic by far, above the other 26 presenters as the favorite one.”
Jamin Snarr, NREMT-P Northwest Arkansas EMS Advisory Council
“[He] has taken his time and effort in making what I regard as an extraordinarily successful presentation to our graduate student course…Joel’s presentation has alerted our students...making them appreciate the importance of the police role in working with these problems…and the value of informed police support in working with families where child abuse and incest is present.”
O. Dale Kunkel, DSW University of Oklahoma School of Social Work
“It has been a great pleasure to work with Joel…he was outstanding…he provided us with so much information. We had to turn down a number of workers who wanted to attend; we hope he can come back next year.”
Amy Tsark, Administrator Hawaii Department of Human Services Staff Development Office
“It has been a true pleasure and a very rewarding experience to have worked with you on numerous pedophile investigations. Your expertise in the area of sexual child assault, both in dealing with the suspect and victim is truly outstanding. You are, in my opinion, a true asset to our profession.”
Det. Corporal George Haralson Tulsa (OK) Police Department Special Investigations Division Child Pornography Unit
“In the overall evaluation of the BB / BSA 1984 National Conference, Detective Johnson was rated the top leader with the very best presentation. We thank Detective Johnson for his willingness and expertise to help us contend with a most serious national problem.”
Robert Allender, Ed.D. Director, Education Institute Big Brothers / Big Sisters of America, Inc.
To Request Mr. Johnson to speak at your church, agency, or organization, contact:
Barb Johnson
Training / Outreach Coordinator
National Crisis Intervention Training Institute, Inc.
(text) 405-543-9221
(email) bjohnson@nciti.org