Burned out of Elmont home, MTA police sergeant, wife get outpouring of financial, emotional support from PBA

On the afternoon of March 12, MTA Police Sgt. Omar Johnson and his wife, Alana Johnson, sat in the silence of their parked car in a lot off Hempstead Turnpike, unsure of what to do.

Just hours earlier, Johnson, 43, had returned to his Elmont apartment to learn the couple's home had been deemed uninhabitable after a fire in the first-floor apartment.

Although no one was injured, most belongings, from clothes to irreplaceable items like military certificates and his wedding tuxedo, were gone.

"I sat in that parking lot for about two hours," Johnson said. "I didn’t say anything to anyone ... just pretty much like brainstorming, trying to figure out and contemplate on what my next move is going to be."

When the veteran officer "came to his senses," he called those he trusted could help — his commanding officer and an MTA Police Benevolent Association representative.

In less than one week, Johnson said, he and his wife received an outpouring of support, from calls to donations to words of comfort, from the police community.

"I'm able to navigate this crisis with my head high," Johnson said. "I can't imagine another family going through this, not getting support that we're getting."

Johnson said on the night of the fire he and Alana, 33, stayed at a relative’s home in Uniondale, where they will continue to reside until they find permanent housing.

That evening and the next day Johnson said he received nonstop calls and text messages from what seemed like "every single member of the PBA."

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority PBA has about 1,300 members, spokesperson Michael Skelly said.

"The losses that Sergeant Omar Johnson and his wife sustained from this catastrophic fire were unimaginable," MTA PBA president Joseph Pugliese said in a statement. "But in times of personal crisis, like this one, our members come together and rally behind one another. As soon as we learned of this tragedy, we were determined to help Omar get back on his feet as soon as possible."

Donations pour in

One of the calls came was from Det. Sgt. Ryan McHale, who previously worked alongside Johnson. McHale told Newsday that upon hearing about the fire, he wanted to jump in to help and got Johnson’s consent to start a GoFundMe fundraiser.

In one week, the effort has raised more than $61,000.

McHale said he was "blown away" by the outpouring of support, which is a testament to his colleague's character and the police community's fraternity.

"He always treats everybody with respect ... always cordial, and he's always willing to help," McHale said. "It wasn't just cops that donated" but their friends, family members and neighbors that don't even know Johnson.

Around 3:20 p.m. on Thursday last week, fire officials received an alarm for a fire at the two-story, multi-apartment dwelling on Sewanee Avenue.

Johnson, who had taken the day off from work, was out and didn't know about the fire until he returned home after it had been extinguished around 4 p.m., he said. His wife was not home at the time.

No one was injured, Nassau County Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro said.

Air Force veteran

Johnson served in the U.S. Air Force for five years before he was honorably discharged and joined the MTA Police in 2014. He was promoted to detective in 2020 and then to sergeant in 2025.

"I’ve always had a strong sense of protecting the vulnerable ... defending those that can't defend themselves," Johnson said.

In July 2025, Omar and Alana married; they moved into the Elmont apartment the following month.

In addition to new furniture that they're still paying off, the couple lost sentimental items such as his wife’s wedding dress, his military and police graduation photos, uniforms and certificates and gifts from his grandmother.

Johnson credited support from the MTA Commanding Officers Association and Project Thank a Cop, which helped to soften the blow.

In addition, the Metropolitan Transit Police Guardians Association gave the couple a $750 gift card to buy clothes.

But Johnson said the most impactful thing he and his wife had received was community's support, knowing they could mentally overcome this by leaning on others.

"I thought I would have to go through this alone, but the support has been overwhelmingly amazing," Johnson said. "I'll be forever grateful."