Jury selection begins for former Stamford police officer in deadly crash that killed well-known pastor
Zachary Lockwood is charged with misconduct with a motor vehicle for a deadly crash that killed the Rev. Tommie Jackson in July 2023.
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Jury selection begins Wednesday for a former Stamford police officer who's facing a felony charge for a deadly crash on the job that killed a beloved local pastor.
Zachary Lockwood, 27, is charged with misconduct with a motor vehicle, which carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison, for the death of the Rev. Tommie Jackson just over three years ago.
Darnell Crosland, an attorney representing the Jackson family, released a statement Wednesday saying in part, "It is our hope that this prosecution does two things, one, hold Lockwood accountable for the life he took from us, and two, send a message to all police officers that they too must respect the rule of law, and that they are hired to protect and serve not disturb."
On the afternoon of July 26, 2023, Lockwood was in a marked police vehicle, heading to a car accident in Stamford when he drove into Jackson on Wire Mill Road. Jackson had just gone to his mailbox across the street and was walking back to his house at the time.
According to Lockwood's arrest warrant, Lockwood and another officer were dispatched to a crash without injuries that included a possible disturbance. They were told to use a "Code 1" response, meaning a non-emergency response with the flow of traffic and no lights or sirens, the warrant said. But Lockwood was recorded on his body camera saying he decided to go "Code 3," the most immediate emergency response with lights and sirens, according to the warrant.
"Oh damn, don't go Code 3, go Code 2," the other officer said, according to the warrant.
Code 2 calls for lights and sirens only when going through intersections.
In Lockwood's warrant, state police concluded he was driving 65 mph at one point and 46 mph when he hit Jackson. The speed limit in that neighborhood is 25 mph.
Last year, Lockwood turned down a plea offer in the case and opted to go to trial. The offer called for a five-year prison sentence, suspended after Lockwood served two years, followed by three years of probation. It also included a condition that Lockwood couldn't be recertified as a police officer. At the time, Jackson's family told News 12 they didn't think two years was enough time but taking the offer would've shown an acceptance of responsibility.
"We'd like to have some closure so we can move on however we have to move on, and it's not that easy when you have to revisit it and revisit it and revisit it," said Jackson's widow, Dorye Jackson.
Lockwood's attorney also spoke with News 12 after the hearing.
"The case is a tragedy on many levels, but not every tragedy makes for a crime," Fitzpatrick said. "And short of a judge dismissing this case, the only way that Officer Lockwood can really demonstrate that his operation of the vehicle was not improper is to reject the plea bargain and request a trial."
A jury of six will be chosen for Lockwood's trial because of the charge. Lockwood's case was transferred to Milford Superior Court after his arraignment in Stamford due to a potential conflict of interest with Stamford State's Attorney's Office. An attorney representing the Jackson family filed a motion to move it to Bridgeport, but a judge denied the request.
Lockwood was fired from the Stamford Police Department about a year after the crash.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING: Stamford officer pleads not guilty in crash that killed beloved local pastor
