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A Detroit police officer is under fire after he appeared pantless during a virtual court hearing.
According to ABC7, Officer Matthew Jackson joined Monday's (October 27) session in the 36th District Court wearing his police uniform shirt, but no pants. Jackson appeared to be wearing only underwear during the hearing with Judge Sean Perkins.
“You got some pants on, officer?” Perkins asked Jackson, to which he replied, “No, sir,” before adjusting his camera so that the lower half of his body was no longer visible. The hearing continued as scheduled.
Attorney TaTaNisha Reed, who was representing the defendant, said she initially struggled to believe what she was seeing.
“I was trying to figure it out — am I seeing what I think I’m seeing? Especially with a police officer,” Reed said. “So it was an interesting day, to say the least.”
36th District Court Chief Judge William McConico said Perkins was “stunned” by the incident but chose to proceed with the case because he knew Jackson personally.
“Officer Jackson is a very professional police officer. He’s always been courteous to citizens, and that’s why it was a little bit stunning,” McConico said in a statement.
The court’s official dress code requires “casual business attire” and prohibits shorts, tank tops, and other clothing unsuitable for a professional environment.
Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison issued a statement apologizing to the court and the public.
“The involved officer’s actions are not representative of the professionalism of this department and will be appropriately addressed,” Bettison said. “Our apologies are hereby extended to the judges and staff of the court, as well as anyone else who may have been in attendance during this incident.”
The department said it plans to remind all officers about proper courtroom etiquette.
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