Stephen Johnson, 63, 35-year police veteran

THERE WERE two things Stephen Johnson always was: a cop and an athlete.

He served well in a number of administrative positions in his 35 years with the Philadelphia Police Department, but his heart was always out in the streets, mingling with the people and fellow cops.

Or riding a motorcycle.

"In my opinion his first love was the Highway Patrol," said former Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson. "When he became captain of the Highway Patrol, he had fulfilled a lifetime ambition."

Stephen T. Johnson, who died Friday at age 63, was such a competitive guy that when Sylvester Johnson would take some officers to local elementary schools to play the kids in basketball, they had trouble holding Steve back.

"I would tell him, 'We're supposed to lose, Steve,' " Johnson said. "He hated to lose."

Steve was still in competitive mode when he had to use a walker to get around as he battled pancreatic cancer.

But the five stairs he had to navigate in the duplex where he was living in the Northeast challenged him.

"He would get me to time him going up those stairs," said his son, Stephen T. Johnson Jr., who recently was promoted to lieutenant in the 9th District. "He always tried to improve his time. I think he got to 10 seconds."

His father played football, baseball and basketball at West Philadelphia High and at Holy Cross College in Worcester, Mass.

"In his own head, he was always an athlete," his son said.

And a cop.

When he was named police chief of Coatesville in December 2012, he told the officers: "First and foremost I am a cop. To my officers, I am one of you guys."

Unfortunately, Steve was diagnosed with cancer at that time and was unable to take the job.

Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said Steve was all about community policing.

"Steve epitomized community policing," said Bethel, who is in charge of patrol operations. "I learned from Steve what it really means to know people, the people on the ground. He had South Philly sewn up. I would go out in the street and people would come up to me and say, 'Do you know Steve Johnson?'

"He knew how to empathize with people. He would meet them in the streets, he would show up at community meetings."

Steve worked out of the 17th District at 20th and Federal streets at the time.

When Steve retired in 2012, Bethel spoke at his retirement ceremony. To prepare, he dug out Steve's personnel file and was astounded at the thick sheaf of letters from grateful citizens.

"One of them told how Steve had jumped his car to get it started," Bethel said. "There were dozens like that. I was amazed."

When Steve became a member of the elite Highway Patrol, he was following in the footsteps of his father, James A. Johnson, who retired from the Highway Patrol.

Steve participated in the annual Hero Thrill Shows to raise funds for children of police officers and firefighters killed or disabled on duty. The show features trick riding by members of the patrol.

Inspector Michael Cochrane was captain of the Highway Patrol when Steve was a deputy commissioner who oversaw the patrol.

Steve always showed up at the Thrill Shows and liked to take a motorcycle for a ride.

"He would get on a bike and disappear with it for a few minutes," Cochrane said. "We would keep an eye on him, but we had confidence he could handle it."

"Whenever I wanted something done, he got it done. When I reported to him, we could do no wrong. He was a very nice man, a true gentleman."

"He was hardworking and dedicated," said Sylvester Johnson, Philadelphia police commissioner from 2002 to 2008. "He loved the Police Department."

Steve Johnson won the Daily News' Fencl Award in 1992 when he was a lieutenant in charge of the department's Conflict Prevention and Resolution Unit, part of the Civil Affairs Department.

The award was named after the late Chief Inspector George Fencl, commander of Civil Affairs before his death in 1985.

Kevin Bethel won it in 2008 for his service as captain of the 17th District

Marco R. Zanoni, former principal of the magnet middle school AMY Northwest, said Steve Johnson pretty much adopted the school.

He organized mini-Thrill Shows in the parking lot of the school, then located in Mount Airy, in 2009, bringing in members of the Highway Patrol to do stunts.

"The cops were celebrities to the students," Zanoni said. "It was an honor to have them here."

Steve came back the next couple of years, and was involved in other activities at the school.

And, yes, he would hop on one of the motorcycles and take it for a ride," Zanoni said.

When he became head of the homeland-security and domestic-preparedness division, Steve brought trucks to the school to demonstrate the department's readiness for disaster.

Tyree Blocker, retired State Police official, played varsity football with Steve at Holy Cross and worked with him on investigations when Blocker was commander of the State Police Area Six, headquartered on Belmont Avenue in Philadelphia.

"Steve did everything 100 percent," Blocker said. "Playing football, the Police Department. I could always count on him, his investigative knowledge. He was a strong competitor, but always the gentleman, on and off the field."

Wendy Harris, Steve's administrative assistant for more than 20 years, said: "He was probably the nicest person in the Police Department. Maybe nice to a fault. He was a really smart person."

Besides his son, he is survived by his mother, Stella Johnson; three brothers, James, William and Frank Johnson; a sister, Joanne Johnson; two stepdaughters, Donna Smith and Erica Watson; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and his former wife, Maria Watson.

Services: Funeral Mass 11 a.m. Friday at St. Cyprian's Church, 525 Cobbs Creek Parkway. Friends may call at 8 a.m. Burial will be at Fernwood Cemetery.