The police officer charged with the death of a beloved pastor has been fired by the Stamford Police Department in Connecticut. Zachary Lockwood, 24, struck and killed Rev. Tommie Jackson while responding to a call in July 2023.
Jackson was the pastor of Rehoboth Fellowship Church in Stamford and was well known in the community as an urban planner and a fixture in city politics.
On July 26, 2023, Jackson was retrieving his mail from the box across the street from his home when Lockwood came around a curve in the road. Lockwood was on his way to an unrelated crash, which had escalated into a disturbance.
Lockwood was reportedly driving at a speed of roughly 65 miles per hour in an area with a 25 miles per hour speed limit.
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According to reports, Lockwood was intermittently activating his emergency siren, with the final siren activation occurring just 15 seconds before he struck Jackson. Jackson was rushed to the hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. He was 69 years old.
The tragic incident occurred just six months after Lockwood graduated from the police academy.
Lockwood had reportedly been told by a dispatcher to respond to the unrelated call by going with the flow of traffic. However, Lockwood escalated his response to “Code 3,” which is the fastest and most urgent response protocol.
After a months-long investigation, Lockwood was charged with misconduct with a motor vehicle in February. He has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, Lockwood could face up to five years in prison.
Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons, who was a personal friend of Jackson, released a statement saying, “I am aware that Zachary Lockwood has been terminated from his position as an officer with the Stamford Police Department. My thoughts and prayers remain with the Jackson family and all those impacted by this horrific tragedy.”
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David O’Meara, president of the Stamford Police Association (SPA), said the association is “very disappointed” in the police chief’s decision to fire Lockwood.
