Every morning at the corner of 36th and Walnut streets, Officer Johnson entertains passers-by with his unique brand of animated traffic direction. Whether hopping on one foot while blowing his whistle or flailing his arms in the air with a sudden stop to point traffic in one direction, Officer Johnson takes his job very seriously.

KING OF THE INTERSECTION: Officer Floyd Johnson on the job. : Patricia Johnston

Johnson, a 61-year-old South Philly native and father of four, says he's always wanted to be a police officer, citing his elementary school job as a safety as the birth of that desire.

"I took the [police] test numerous times but never got in," he says, "so I joined the Housing Authority Police Department in 1972."

Johnson, who served with the HAPD for 25 years, got his "golden opportunity" when, in 1997, Penn vice president of public safety Maureen S. Rush offered him a position with the the University of Pennsylvania police department.

"It was move-in day, August 1997, at 38th and Spruce when I started directing traffic. I just started doing little crazy things and people would blow their horn and wave at me, so it became a habit. Now, I don't know what I'm going to do and sometimes I surprise myself."

Shift supervisor Lt. Gary Williams speaks highly of Johnson. "Directing traffic is a vital part of what we do around here," says Williams, "because we have a high number of pedestrians as well as automobile traffic, and he does his job in such a way that I believe it takes the pressure off of the people; it's a bright spot in their day. … He adds character to the job. We have other traffic cops but none like Officer Johnson."

Johnson had no mentor in the field of hyper-animated traffic direction. He does, however, trace his appreciation to a traffic cop at Broad and Spring Garden streets whom he admired in the early 1960s.

Though Johnson loves his job, he is still a police officer. "When people run the light, wide open, intentionally, that's a problem 'cause we got people crossing." On occasion, he's had to leave his post to assist a fellow officer in hot pursuit. He's dealt with an occasional shoplifter or two. It comes with the job.

Johnson's reasons for being so lively and animated range from passing the time to enjoying the power to control the flow of traffic. But he says it's the people he serves and cares about that keep him going.

"People come up and hug me, blow kisses to me and tell me they can't cross unless I'm here. I even have one guy that brings me water and a full breakfast every now and then."

It's not all one big love fest, however. "One guy hollered out of his window that he didn't know what the devil I was doing. He wished I'd get out of the street," Johnson laughs.

All in all, he says he gets joy out of it, especially when he's encouraged to, as some people call out to him, "Give us a dance."

"Some people like to collect antiques, ride bikes and all that good stuff," says Johnson. "I just like to direct traffic. I don't know if I was made to do it but it's a pleasure and I could do it all day."

Unfortunately, Johnson's been off his feet as of late, the result of an injury sustained in a car accident (while in a car, not directing them) that will keep him from his post for about five weeks.

But this 35-year veteran plans to persevere, explaining that this has been a dream career. However, he says that dream will end when he turns 63. He plans to retire.

Johnson figures leaving quietly will be difficult; he's become quite attached to his job. "I want to stand on corners when I retire and just wave at cars for a couple hours a day," says Johnson, "then go home to eat my graham crackers and milk and take my senior citizens' nap."