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Police union calling for Fort Myers officer's return to work

Posted at 9:28 PM, Apr 05, 2021
and last updated 2021-04-05 21:36:10-04

Fort Myers. Fla. — Fort Myers police officer Jason Jackson tells those closest to him he’s ready to get back to work. He hasn’t worn his uniform in the last four years.

Jackson has been on paid administrative leave since February 2017, along with three other officers who have since retired. All four were accused of playing a part in crimes including murder, drug trafficking and public corruption.

Jackson has collected upwards of $250,000 while he's been on leave, as estimated by Matt Sellers, President of the Gulf Coast Police Benevolent Association. That doesn't include the taxpayer dollars that went to the other officers before they all retired.

Jackson’s attorney Stephen Dobson called the investigation, unnecessary.

“A terrible miscarriage of justice,” he said.

Dobson said on Friday Jackson received the news he’s been waiting to hear.

A letter from the U.S. Department of Justice saying, “no federal crimes are being pursued for prosecution at this time.”

Dobson summed up Jackson’s feelings after reading the letter.

“Ecstatic. He was happy,” he said. “He actually said ‘Praise the Lord.’”

Sellers said the murder-related allegation is connected to the murder of a federal informant. He said he worked that case for three years as an FMPD detective.

“No police officers were ever suspected while it was assigned to me,” he said.

He added the whistleblower working within FMPD at the time tipped off superiors to the allegations, but went AWOL when it came time to go on the record, and then resigned.

“It looks like lying by omission if you ask me,” he said.

We’re not naming that whistleblower as Fox 4 has not been able to reach them as of Monday night.

A spokesperson for FMPD says the department hasn’t been formally notified that the federal investigation has closed. So, it’s unclear if and when Jackson will return to work at this time.