
One of Penn's unstated institutions, Floyd Johnson has danced his way through traffic for a decade.
The Penn policeman - who has been directing cars and waltzing across the intersection of 36th and Walnut streets since 1997 - is set to retire in January 2008, denying the campus of one of its most enduring characters.
Johnson can usually be seen outside the Penn Bookstore at about noon each day, always with a smile on his face and a spring in his step.
But when asked about his unusual style, he dismisses it.
"Oh, that's just my rheumatism playing up," he says. "At first I was just dodging cars, . [but] the girls started waving, and, when you're a man of my age, you just got to keep doing it if they're waving at you."
The 61-year-old - who claims to be a prematurely graying 39 - was not always stationed on the safe streets of the Penn campus.
Johnson began with the Housing Department of the Philadelphia Police in 1972 and was immediately thrust into action - he was shot in the back in Germantown after only six months on the force.
The gunman "just wanted to shoot a cop. I don't know why he didn't shoot my partner," he said.
The bullet ended up only two inches from his lungs, and, he says, the only reason he survived was because "the Lord was with me." As a memento of the life-threatening encounter, he's still got the jacket, complete with bullet hole.
But after 25 years on the Philadelphia Police force, Johnson began to devote more of his time to traffic-policing - with a little dancing on the side.
"I enjoy this more," he said. "It's more creative on the other side."
But Johnson reveals little of his dancing technique - he says that all of his moves are improvised.
"I couldn't tell you one move I made last year," he says, adding that "sometimes I surprise myself."
Johnson has become somewhat of a celebrated figure on campus, with people often bringing him water or even entire meals while he's on duty.
And although he always gives the impression of contentment, Johnson maintains that even he has his bad days - "there'd be something wrong with me" otherwise, he says.
Johnson said he's heard of a couple of other traffic cops in other parts of the country who dance as well, mentioning a policemen in New Jersey who comes out of retirement every year for the winter holidays.
"He does the splits, though, and bends right over backwards," Johnson said. "If I did that, you'd need four officers just to get me back up."
But despite this competition, for Penn students, Johnson's antics are more than enough to brighten their day.
"He's like a breath of fresh air," College senior Francesca Brody said, while College senior David Back said that "he's mesmerizing."
Johnson's supervisor, Lt. Gary Williams, stressed that, although Johnson is planning on retiring next year, it won't be that easy.
"We're not going to let him leave," he said. "He loves doing what he does, the community loves it, and we love it."
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