Local News in Brief : Fund-Raiser Set for Officer in ‘Sting’

Nearly 50 black community organizations and several politicians and celebrities plan a reception and fund-raiser Sunday in Hollywood to honor Don Jackson, the Hawthorne police sergeant who gained national attention after a January confrontation with a Long Beach policeman.

Jackson was filmed by an NBC-TV news crew in a “sting” operation as Officer Mark Dickey appeared to push him through a plate glass window and slam him onto the hood of a police car. Jackson, who is black, says he was investigating charges that Long Beach police harass minorities.

Churches, political clubs and local chapters of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People are among the organizations that have paid $100 each for the legal fund-raiser and tribute to Jackson, who was charged with obstructing a police officer.

Rep. Augustus Hawkins, state Sen. Diane Watson and Assemblywoman Maxine Waters, all Democrats from Los Angeles, are among the Jackson supporters listed on a flyer announcing the event. Singer Dionne Warwick, former football star Jim Brown, actress Marla Gibbs and other celebrities are also expected to attend at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Waters said.

On Friday, a Long Beach Municipal Court judge refused to grant city prosecutors pressing the obstruction case against Jackson access to his employment records.

Deputy City Prosecutor John Fentis said records were needed to show that Jackson, as a police officer himself, “knew what excessive force is” and how use of force would be escalated in his encounter with the Long Beach officer.

Jackson’s attorney, Hugh Manes, said the personnel records had no bearing on the pending case.

Jackson is on disability leave from the Hawthorne Police Department.