Dallas prepares to honor fallen officer from R.I.
As family, friends and fellow Dallas police officers plan services for Brian H. Jackson, a 28-year-old immigrant is charged with capital murder in connection with his death.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
BY KAREN LEE ZINER
Journal Staff Writer
Flags were lowered to half staff in Dallas and the police draped their badges in black in honor of slain police officer Brian H. Jackson, a former Rhode Island resident who was killed Sunday in the line of duty.
Jackson, 28, a graduate of Portsmouth High School and the University of Rhode Island, was shot during a gunfight that erupted near the scene of a reported domestic disturbance.
His father, retired Navy Capt. John Jackson, said in a statement issued Sunday that his son "was killed in the line of duty, doing the job he loved." John Jackson said his son "will be remembered for his good humor, his sense of duty, and his love for his family."
Juan Lizcano, a 28-year-old Mexican immigrant, was being held on charges of capital murder and aggravated assault in connection with Jackson's shooting, the police said.
Immigration authorities filed a detention request with the police because he is allegedly in the United States illegally. If Texas authorities were to release him at any time, he would be turned over to federal officials.
A funeral for Jackson will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Highland Oaks Church of Christ, in Dallas, a non-denominational parish whose large auditorium has accommodated prior funerals for fallen Dallas police officers or firefighters.
A candlelight service will be held tomorrow night from 7 to 7:30, at the Central Operations Division station where Jackson worked, said Senior Cpl. Max Geron, of the Dallas Police Department.
Meanwhile, calling hours will be held Sunday and a public memorial service will be held on Monday in Rhode Island. The locations have not yet been determined.
Jackson's body is being guarded around the clock by a police honor guard at the Restland Funeral Home, said funeral director Brian Barrett.
"As a matter of fact, the police have been with his body from the point of the shooting, to the hospital, to the medical examiner's office. They will remain with him throughout the services," Barrett said.
Official calling hours are Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., but visitors will be welcomed at any time between now and then, Barrett said.
Jackson's body will be flown to Rhode Island on Saturday, accompanied by up to 100 Dallas police officers, said Charlestown Police Sgt. Patrick J. McMahon, who worked with Jackson and Jackson's wife, JoAnn DeMello, when they both worked in South County as volunteer EMTs for Charlestown Rescue.
The calling hours and memorial service are open to the public, friends, family and the law enforcement community, McMahon said. There will be no public burial.
Jackson's body will be cremated, said Barrett, the Dallas funeral director. However, a headstone with Jackson's name on it will be placed in the Restland Park Cemetery.
"It will give people a place to come and memorialize him," Barrett said. That includes Jackson's wife, Barrett said, whom Jackson married in August at the URI campus and who now lives in Dallas.
Dallas Morning News photo / Tom Fox
A flag at half-staff at the Jack Evans Police Headquarters Building, in Dallas, for Brian H. Jackson, a graduate of Portsmouth High School and the University of Rhode Island.
Jackson's headstone will be placed next to that of the last fallen Dallas police officer, who was also cremated, Barrett said.
A procession that will include motorcycle officers and squad cars will escort Jackson's body on the five-mile ride to the church, Barrett said. The family has opted to ride in squad cars, rather than limousines, he added.
A Catholic priest who is also a Dallas Police chaplain, will conduct the funeral Mass, Barrett said.
The Highland Oaks Church of Christ is at 1085 Kingsley Rd., in Dallas. The Restland Funeral Home is at 9220 Restland Rd. in that city.
"We have been the host church for many of the city's funerals," said Gina Lasby, spokeswoman for the Highland Oaks Church of Christ. "We can fit up to 3,000 people" in the church auditorium.
Portsmouth High School Principal Robert Littlefield said that the school will devote a moment of silence to Jackson's honor this morning. Jackson, a 1995 graduate of that school, played varsity football there.
His quote in the high school yearbook reflected his family's many Navy relocations, but also proved to be somewhat "prophetic," Littlefield said.
It reads, "Make the most of today, for you may start tomorrow in a new, strange and different place."
According to the Dallas Morning News, bail was set for Lizcano, the suspect in Jackson's death, at $1 million and $25,000 on the charges of capital murder and aggravated assault, respectively.
The Dallas Morning News reported that Jackson had been working late Saturday to help solve a recent double homicide, and was among the officers who responded to a reported domestic disturbance in the 2400 block of North Henderson.
Marta Cruz, whom the police identified as Lizcano's ex-girlfriend, said Lizcano arrived at her home at about 1:55 a.m. Sunday, pulled a handgun, shot into the ceiling, then pointed the gun at her, saying, "Next time, it will be you," according to the Dallas Morning News account.
Cruz called the police after Lizcano fled, then about 45 minutes later, he returned, the paper stated. Jackson, one of several officers who reported to the scene, pursued the suspect on foot as he jumped over fences and ran through yards.
Three officers were fired upon as they searched an alley, but they did not return fire, the report said.
As he searched for Lizcano in the 2400 block of Madera Street,in the Old East Dallas neighborhood, Jackson was hit once in his right underarm. He had fired two or three rounds before going down, according to the Dallas Morning News account. Jackson died at 3:52 a.m. at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.
Staff writer Rich Salit contributed to this report.
A Brian H. Jackson Memorial Fund has been established at the City Credit Union of Dallas, 1400 South Lamar St., Suite 2006, Dallas, Texas, 75215.
ONLINE GUESTBOOK: Post a sympathy message or share a memory of Dallas police officer Brian Jackson, who was killed in the line of duty, at:
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