Brian Howard Jackson

Dallas, Texas - Jackson, Brian Howard, 28, was killed in the line of duty Sunday morning, November 13, 2005 in central Dallas. Brian, a five year veteran with the Dallas Police Department was shot while pursuing a suspect in a life threatening domestic violence incident. Though he had just completed his assigned shift, he and his partner chose to assist their fellow officers in the shoot out that took his life. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1976, he traveled extensively with his family, living in California, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Rhode Island. He was a varsity athlete at Portsmouth High School and a cheerleader at the University of Rhode Island, from which he graduated in 1999. While in college, he trained and served as an EMT with several volunteer organizations, where he worked alongside his future wife. After earning his bachelors degree in Sociology, he acted on his long term interest in law enforcement by interviewing for positions across the US. He joined the highly respected Dallas Police Department in 2001. He was the cherished son of Capt. John E. Jackson, USN a retired Naval Officer who now serves as a senior professor at the US Naval War College in Newport, RI and Valerie Lee Jackson also of Newport. His loving sister, Maj. Gina Jackson, USAF is stationed Charlestown, SC. In August 2005, he married the former Jo-Ann deMello, a respiratory therapist employed in Dallas, to whom he had been engaged for some time. Known throughout the force as a first rate police officer, Brian had been commended on numerous occasions for his outstanding performance. His committed service and dedication to the citizens of his community will be long remembered, and his absence will be greatly felt by all who knew and loved him. A viewing will be held Sunday, November 20, 2005, from 4-7pm at the Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway, Newport. Donations may be made in his memory to the Brian H. Jackson Memorial Fund c/o City of Dallas Credit Union.