I think it's safe to say that as a court judge, you'd see and hear a lot of wild stories over the years – but a cop appearing at a hearing without any trousers was a first for one Detroit judge.
Judge Sean Perkins, a member of the 36th District Court, was left completely speechless when a sitting police officer appeared on a Zoom call during a recent case, wearing his uniform shirt and a pair of boxer briefs.
The officer in question, Matthew Jackson, was immediately questioned by the judge about his attire, who asked: “You got some pants on, sir?”
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Jackson then admitted he did not and quickly readjusted the camera so that his underwear was no longer visible on the call.
Detroit Police are now investigating the incident and have pledged to train their officers on the correct etiquette required for attending court proceedings, while other judges and members of the police department have since weighed in.
According to the 36th District Court website, a dress code is currently in force for anyone attending court, both in-person and virtually.
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Attendees are expected to wear casual business attire, with certain items banned from the court, including shorts, skorts, tank tops, hats and caps (unless worn for religious or cultural purposes).
Other items that are prohibited include anything deemed unsuitable for a court or professional environment.
Commenting on the case, 36th District Court Chief Judge William McConico told ABC7: “I spoke with Judge Perkins, because I wanted to know, you know, what went through his mind with how he handled the case.
"He was stunned, obviously. He was shocked. Officer Jackson is a person he’s known.
“He wanted to stress to me that Officer Jackson is a very professional police officer, he’s always been very courteous to the citizens, and that’s why it was a little bit stunning,” he added.
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One of the attorneys present, TaTaNisha Reed, was also equally shocked as she told ABC7: “I was trying to figure it out. Like, am I seeing what I think I’m seeing? Especially with a police officer.”
In light of the unfortunate blunder, Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison acknowledged that the department was taking the incident seriously, as he said: “The Detroit Police Department requires its officers to represent themselves in a dignified and professional manner while attending court proceedings.
“The involved officer’s actions are not representative of the professionalism of this department and will be appropriately addressed to maintain the public confidence and efficient operation of this department.
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“Our apologies are hereby extended to the judges and staff of the court, as well as anyone else who may have been in attendance during this incident.”
Phoebe Tonks