A Fort Myers police officer that returned to work after four years on administrative leave has once again been placed on leave.
Officer Jason Jackson returned to duty full-time on April 6, 2021, after a federal justice investigation failed to turn up criminal charges against Jackson and three other officers who retired while they were under investigation.
The allegations against Jackson, Melvin Perry, Rick Notaro and Michael Forbes come from an audit of the Fort Myers Police Department by the Freeh Group International Solutions.
The audit alleged police corruption, favoritism in the department and lack of resources that kept officers from solving violent crime.
Jackson was on paid leave during the length of the federal justice investigation.
Now, Fort Myers police say, an internal affairs investigation has been launched into allegations of misconduct by Jackon based on documents provided by the FBI.
Fort Myers police Chief Derrick Diggs said, in a statement, the FBI provided information to the police department based on their investigation of Jackson and the other officers.
Diggs said the internal investigation will remain confidential until it is completed, citing Florida’s Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights.
Jackson will remain on leave pending the outcome of the investigation, FMPD said.
Fort Myers City Council unanimously votes to keep Diggs as Police Chief.
Fort Myers City Council is more than happy to hear that Chief Diggs’ work in this city will continue.
“Then we can start negotiating the contract,” said Streets.
Chief Diggs’ contract isn’t actually up until August. The City Manager and Diggs will begin those contract negotiations soon.