NOBLE NEWS ONLINE

Chief James Jackson

James Garfield Jackson was born on October 24, 1933.  He grew up in Columbus, Ohio and graduated in 1951 from East High School, the yearbook indicates his motto “fight for what you want”.  He continues to maintain his residency in the city he is sworn to protect.  "I was born and raised here.  I feel attached to the community.  I feel I owe it something."  (Call & Post-- April 10, 1982)

Through a newspaper route as a boy, he learned integrity, discipline, duty, and self-reliance--traits he feels are essential for being a good police officer.  Positive contacts with the police made being an officer a lifetime goal, a life's work that he first decided upon while in grade school.

Following his honorable discharge from a three-year stint with the Marine Corps, Chief Jackson joined the Columbus Division of Police on March 16, 1958.   He was assigned to cruiser duty and foot patrol until his promotion to sergeant on March 27, 1967, after placing “first” on the promotional exam.

On February 14, 1971, Chief Jackson was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, serving in recruiting, patrol, and community relations.  As a lieutenant as well as throughout his career, Chief Jackson maintains that the Columbus Division of Police is the best police department in the country.  On March 16, 1973, he was quoted "Travel around the country and you can see that the Columbus police force is sharp.  Granted there is room for improvement, but it can't be beat as a whole."

On February 23, 1973, Chief Jackson was informed that he ranked number "one" on the captain (commander) promotional exam.  He was promoted to the rank of captain in July of 1974 and placed in charge of B Company Patrol.  His continuing battle to increase the number of officers on the Division spreads over decades.  As a captain and striving to improve the Division, he stated "Columbus is undermanned by 25 percent compared to the 15th through 26th largest cities. We're 39 percent understaffed for the five largest cities.  Once crime gets started, it's difficult to reduce....  It's easier to hold the level down with an adequate force at first."  (Columbus Citizen Journal —April 19, 1976) 

In June of 1977, Chief Jackson was promoted to the rank of deputy chief after placing "first" on the promotional exam.  As deputy chief, he was in charge of the Investigative Subdivision for six years, the Patrol Subdivision for one year, and the Special Operations Subdivision for six years.

As he ascended the ranks, Chief Jackson achieved the distinction of being the only person in the Columbus Division of Police to place "first" on three promotional exams.

Throughout his career, Chief Jackson has been an active proponent of equal opportunities for all and understands that he leads by example as evident by this statement he made in 1983, "I have always sought excellence in my performance not only because it was in me to do so, but because my upward mobility opens doors for others and sets an example of accomplishment."  (The New Onyx)

In federal court cases in 1973, 1975, and 1984, Chief Jackson testified about discrimination in hiring, assignments, and promotions within the Columbus Division of Police.  His testimony weighed heavily in the three separate trials that brought about federal court findings from which over 73% of the current black and female sworn personnel have benefited by either being hired, promoted, assigned, given financial compensation, or some combination thereof. 

James G. Jackson was chosen to be the Chief of Police by the Public Safety Director and a five-member selection committee that evaluated all four candidates for the position.  After serving the citizens of Columbus for nearly 32 years, he was promoted to the position of Chief of Police on June 15, 1990

Since his appointment as Chief of Police, he has constantly strived to pull together the necessary resources in personnel, salaries, funds, equipment and time to make this Division the epitome of professionalism.  He has implemented many programs to enhance the public’s respect, trust and confidence in the Columbus Division of Police.   

Chief Jackson recognizes that he is the key to the Division’s ability to provide valuable services to the citizens of Columbus, as evident by this statement he made in a 1983 interview,  “The caliber of the police officer, the credibility of the Division, and the degree of community support for our work largely depends upon the quality of leadership provided by the Chief of Police.”

One of his first priorities as chief was for the Division to become an accredited law enforcement agency. The Division received its first Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) award in July 1999.  Also, the Division’s Crime Laboratory received the American Society of Crime Laboratories Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) award in September 1999. 

The Columbus Division of Police competed in the annual Best Dressed Police Department Competition, hosted by the National Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD) in 1991, 1995 and the latest being August 2002.  Each time the Division was given the distinction of being the “ Best Dressed City-with over 200 Officers”.

In 1996, the Columbus Division of Police became the focus of a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation, in which false allegations were made accusing officers of a pattern and practice of violating citizens Constitutional Rights. Confident in its innocence, the Columbus Division of Police is the only police agency in the nation to stand-up to fight the DOJ allegations, and prevail. The case was dismissed without prejudice in 2002.

In July 2005 at the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) 29^th annual training conference, Chief Jackson was honored and awarded with the Lloyd Sealy Award, which is given for outstanding service or accomplishments in the field of criminal justice.

Columbus received a first place ranking in safety and was ranked eighth in Money Magazine’s, top ten best big cities to live in 2006.  Columbus was one of only three cities with populations of more than 700,000 on the list.

 Chief Jackson is the longest-serving chief in the Division’s history and the longest active serving chief of any metropolitan city in the United States and Canada.

Of his greatest achievements are his recent CALEA re-accreditation and his department's ability to address it's problems with entering into a consent decree with the Justice Department.