Detective Jackson Hires Ex-Judge Carla Policandriotes As Counsel

JOLIET, IL - At a time when the Joliet Police Department could use the skills of Dave Jackson, the experienced homicide detective is now preoccupied with preparing his own criminal defense and personal issues. And Jackson, who faces two counts of domestic battery in connection with a violent attack at his girlfriend's house on Root Street in Crest Hill, has turned to a long-time and notable figure inside the Will County Courthouse in hopes of avoiding a criminal conviction.

Jackson has retained the legal services of former Will County Circuit Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes as his criminal defense counsel.

Policandriotes left the bench last year even though her position was not up for retention on the Will County election ballot until November 2020.

At any rate, Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow filed a motion with the court this month asking that a special prosecutor, and not someone from his staff, take over the case against the Joliet Police detective.

"The prosecution of the defendant by the State's Attorney's Office could create the appearance of an impropriety," Glasgow's filing states. "It is in the interest of justice that a special prosecutor be appointed to avoid any such appearance … The defendant is a Joliet Police Department detective who has pending criminal cases in Will County in which he is the assigned detective on the case as part of his employment with the Joliet Police Department."

Will County's Chief Judge Richard Schoenstedt agreed to the suggestion, ordering a special prosecutor handle the case involving the Joliet Police detective.

The criminal complaint against Jackson, 47, states that on March 9, David Jackson … "knowingly without legal justification … slammed (his girlfriend) to the ground" at her house in Crest Hill.

Jackson was not arrested on the night of the domestic violence incident; he drove off before Crest Hill Police got there. The next morning, he turned himself in to his employer and was able to go free, by posting 10 percent of his $20,000 bail.

Joliet Police have said that Jackson has been relegated to administrative duties in lieu of the criminal case pending against him.