The Macomb County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating a shooting incident involving a Shelby Township police officer that resulted in the death of Thomas Antonio Jackson, age 41, of Troy. The event, which is said to have occurred during a traffic stop, took place near 22 Mile Road and Van Dyke on June 3 at around 3:15 p.m., as reported by The Detroit News. Authorities have yet to release further details pending completion of the investigation, but they have committed to providing a "thorough and transparent review."
According to ClickOnDetroit, Jackson allegedly produced a firearm while attempting to flee the police, prompting the shooting. This statement becomes part of a series of recent officer-involved shootings in Michigan, including myriad incidents where law enforcement officers fatally wounded individuals amidst various calls to action.
During the June 3 traffic stop, Sheriff's Office statements detailed to MLive elucidated that after fleeing on foot and being pursued, Jackson was subject to tasering and subsequent verbal commands from the officer to drop his weapon, before the fatal shots were fired. He was later pronounced dead in a local hospital. In alignment with department policy, the involved officer has been placed on administrative leave.
Shea Howell, a retired Oakland University professor and associate of the Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountability, has expressed concerns regarding the trend of police-involved shootings, particularly in light of increased militarization of police forces. "That has definitely been true under the efforts of the Trump administration to increase the militarization of our police," Howell told The Detroit News. Howell's observations call for a reconsideration of roles and responses in law enforcement, suggesting a shift in responsibilities towards non-armed professionals, especially for non-violent encounters.
