"I think it [accusations of mismanagement] are a very unfair attack on the fellow," Steiner says.

Wall agrees that Johnson ultimately overcame the shortage of resources. "Poor Paul Johnson didn't know who to trust. But he finally did [make a decision]. He took a stand and stayed with the community the people of good will." Wall says. "Once we developed a relation of trust we were able to keep the information within ourselves--and avoid the leaks Now we have virtually arrested the drug traffic on Sonoma Street," he adds. According to Wall. as recently as last summer "there were stores. that everyone knew about. where owners were selling drugs across the counter in broad daylight to children. as bold as can be" Such stores have virtually disappeared. he says.

Leader

Throughout discussions with friends and associates an impressive picture of Johnson as a leader emerges Colleagues say he earned the respect of his charges largely because of his patrolman past.

"Harvard's got an old pro there. He's paid his dues. He's a street officer. not a 'bank' officer." says Anthony G Paolillo, chief of the Cambridge Police Department. Paolillo says he has known Johnson for several years, and he was also a friend of Chalin and has had a long-running association with the Harvard Police. "The old cliche about police officers is that the ones that work their way up work the best." he adds.

"He earned his position. He worked his way to Sergeant on the beat and in the cruisers. He wasn't politically inclined [a political appointee] like some people," says Lewis G. McConkey. a detective at Area B and 28-year veteran of the Boston Police. Johnson's past gave him increased authority and a more effective style of command, McConkey adds.

"He's honest.and that's important around here. There were no bribes. no corruption associated with him while he was in charge of police here." Thomas says. adding. "I had. at the end. to take my hat off to Paul Johnson and commend him for paving the way to community unity." Wall says. "The community has never been as involved with the drug problems as it was last summer" and that made all the difference," he adds.

In racially tense Boston, some sources say. Johnson's race made things difficult at times. "He was the second highest Black in the Boston Police Department. Automatically that creates a problem. It's a given," Thomas says. However. most agree that Johnson took whatever difficulties came his way in stride. "You're bound to meet someone along the way who'll judge you not because of your abilities but because you're a Black man." McConkey says. "But that wasn't something that deterred him. It wasn't a problem." he adds.

Johnson agrees that occasional tensions were apparent. but says they had no effect on him. "I never felt any tensions at my level but there were certain tensions among the men," he says, "I am not aware and have not been aware for many years of any difficulties on the command staff and I was there for seven years. Nobody ever said anything to my face." he adds.

Johnson has rapidly familiarized himself with his new Harvard surroundings over the past two months. The lesson of Area B he says, was "to talk to everybody." To that end, the Chief says, he has had "many, many" conversations with deans, directors of security for various areas (such as the Medical School and the Business School), department command staff and officers and security guards themselves "I think I've got a pretty good handle on what's going on here. he says.

Officers who have met Johnson seem to agree with Boston police who worked under him that Johnson is an easy man to talk to "Everyone I've talked to has said he's a person that treats everyone fairly, and that's all you can expect of someone." says Harvard patrolman Joseph S. Dwyer. a 29-year veteran of the university force.

"The men, the people I've spoken to like him very much. They say he is professional and easy to talk to," says Lt. George Hill, director of the Harvard Police contingent at the Medical School.

Johnson says he is pleased to be at Harvard. At last, he says, he has the authority--subject to general controls by University administration--to implement his own security ideas. "It [being chief] gives you a greater sense of direction and control here. In Boston I was pretty steadily directed by superior officers. You were told what you could and could not do." Johnson said. "Here there is the opportunity to be more innovative," he adds.

Priorities for the future, Johnson says, include "crime prevention," and particularly, computer crime prevention. "The Chief pointed to the recent report on computer theft at the Business School--the broadest assessment of that of security in University history--as evidence of progress toward these ends.

Immediately, Johnson says. Harvard Police are investigating improvements in security for the Yard in the wake of the alleged rape of a freshman woman in her dormitory room, in conjunction with Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III and the Dean's office.