Joliet Police Detective Arrested On Domestic Violence Charges

JOLIET, IL — A well-known Joliet Police detective who works in the investigative unit, David Jackson, has been arrested in connection with two counts of domestic battery following an incident on Saturday night at a house in Crest Hill.

The victim, a woman in her forties, suffered bruises and swelling to her face, arms and elbows, Crest Hill Police Chief Ed Clark told Joliet Patch on Sunday night.

The incident happened at a house in the 1400 block of Root Street, a subdivision near Weber Road.

Clark said that a "third party" alerted the Crest Hill Police to the incident around 9:20 p.m. on Saturday. However, Jackson, 47, was long gone by the time the squad cars from Crest Hill got there. At the scene, "we were not able to make contact with him," Clark said.

Jackson lives in the Shorewood area on Brookfield Drive. He was promoted within the Joliet Police Department to the position of detective in 2016. He has also been an outspoken member of the Joliet Black Police Officer's Association, serving as the organization's president.

Later Saturday night, Crest Hill Police spoke with Jackson over the phone, Clark said. The Will County State's Attorney's Office was also notified and authorized criminal charges against Jackson.

Clark said the female victim in this case refused medical treatment.

Jackson waited until 7 a.m. on Sunday to turn himself into authorities, according to police. Jackson turned himself into his employer, the Joliet Police Department, Clark said.

A source told Joliet Patch that the woman Jackson is accused of hurting was believed to be his girlfriend.

Patch asked Clark if that were the case, and he responded by saying, "I can't really speak to that.

"We take each and every report of a domestic violence very seriously. Obviously, this is an alleged incident and (Jackson) is innocent until proven guilty. We cooperated with the Will County State's Attorney's Office and the Joliet Police Department," Chief Clark told Patch.

Back in August, Detective Jackson was highlighted in a Joliet Patch article following the arrest of Joliet District 86 school teacher Michael Kazecki, 38, who was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Kazecki's wife, Becky.

Jackson and another detective were praised by Chief Al Roechner for their work in bringing first-degree murder charges against Kazecki, who claimed that his wife had suffered alcohol poisoning at their house on McDonough Street, rendering her unconscious.

"I'm very proud of them," Roechner told Joliet Patch at the time. "They did an awesome job getting the facts and keeping their composure … they're great at it."

Joliet Patch interviewed Chief Roechner on Sunday night and he said that Jackson has been placed on administrative duties and he has been stripped of his police powers pending an internal investigation. The criminal case, the chief stressed, is a Crest Hill case.

"It's theirs to do as far as the (criminal investigation)," Roechner said.

Jackson has been with the Joliet Police Department for at least 20 years, Roechner said.

The last Joliet Police officer who was charged with a criminal offense was officer Nick Crowley. That was also a domestic disturbance incident with his girlfriend, Officer Cassie Socha. That case went to a bench trial last May and Judge Daniel Kennedy found Crowley not guilty of all criminal charges, including reckless discharge of a firearm.

After spending several months on paid suspension, Crowley was returned to regular duties on the Joliet Police force last year.