Fundraiser for fallen Tulsa police sergeant and injured officer raises $500,000+
The event held Wednesday raised hundreds of thousands of dollars
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
By Russell Mills
TULSA — Tulsa police officers often work second jobs, and sometimes face long shifts, but dozens of them showed up Wednesday to volunteer their time, and help raise money for two of their own.
Among them, Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin, who spent much of the day at LaFortune Park where Cox Media Group Tulsa and the TPD Foundation had organized a fundraiser.
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
Fundraiser for the Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, July 8, 2020 The event helped raise money for the families of two Tulsa police officers gunned down during a traffic stop. (Russell Mills)
The money, all of it, will go to the newly-created Johnson-Zarkeshan Family Fund, established to help the family of Sgt. Craig Johnson, as well as Ofcr. Aurash Zarkeshan and his family.
Johnson died as a result of gunshot wounds suffered during a traffic stop that turned violent in the early morning hours of June 29th.
Zarkeshan has managed a recovery described by some as miraculous, and remains hospitalized.
By late Wednesday, KRMG was able to confirm donations totaling well over $500,000, with donations still coming in from the special text line set up for that purpose.
Donors can still text TPD to 70123 to get back a link and donate safely.
KRMG is part of the Cox Media Group in Tulsa, along with FOX23 Television, K-95.5 Tulsa’s New Country Leader, 103.3 The Eagle, Tulsa’s Only Classic Rock, Mix 96.5, Today’s Best Music, and 105.7 The Bone, Tulsa’s Real Rock.
All five radio stations, and FOX23, participated in the fundraising effort, which was spearheaded by KRMG’s Rick Couri, along with TPD Foundation President Matt Skinner.
Sergeant Johnson’s funeral will be held Thursday, and thousands are expected to line the path of the procession, east along 61st Street, from Victory Christian to Floral Haven Cemetery in Broken Arrow.