Jackson family legacy continues
Steven Jamal-Warrick Jackson is continuing his family's of service both as a highway patrolman and a member of the armed forces.
Jackson started the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol Cadet Class #64 in Pearl on December 1.
He has completed his training. Although, it was not formal commissioning ceremony, Trooper Jackson met Gov. Tate Reeves and was sworn in at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officer's Training Academy (MLEOTA) in Pearl.
He is the third generation of his family to graduated, following the paths of his grandfather, Jerome Jackson. and his father, Jerome Steven D, Jackson.
Trooper Jackson is assigned to Neshoba County. He lives in DeKalb and has a sister, Mercedez, one daughter, Khloe Blair Jackson and one niece, Tiaga Tierre Jackson. Trooper Jackson is also the grandson of Clifton and Mattie B. Houston of DeKalb.
Jackson is also presently continuing the family tradition serving as a sergeant (E-5) in the Bravo Co., 1-155th BCT in Poplarville.
The Jackson family tradition runs deep starting with his grandfather, Jerome Jackson, who was the first African American to become a state trooper in Kemper County. Jerome was in MHP Cadet Class #18 that graduated 42 troopers on September 22, 1978. Jerome was assigned to Harrison County Troop K in Gulfport. His grandmother, Linda F. Jackson helped mold her children and grandchildren in service to God, selfless service, and public service.
During Jerome's tenure as a trooper, he was selected to attend the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Federal Academy in Glynco, Ga.
After completing the DEA academy, Jerome was one of the first black trooper-investigator assigned to the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics in the 1980's.
Jerome quickly rose through the ranks of the highway patrol to serve the District #6 public affairs officer for Troop H Meridian. After working the highways for 28 years, Jerome retired from the ranks of the highway safety patrol. Jerome served overseas as a security forces flight chief during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Jerome continued to serve in Mississippi Air National Guard at the rank of chief master sergeant (E-9) where he retired with over 40 years of service. His great grandfather, Jesse Craig, was Korean War veteran in the U.S. Army.
Trooper Jackson's aunt, Brandi Jackson, is a former 10-year USAF veteran and served overseas during Operation Enduring Freedom. She is currently a logistic supervisor with U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Jackson has an aunt, Bettie Townsend ,who is retired veteran with U.S. Navy, Two of his uncles also served in the military. James Jackson is a 22-year US Army veteran and Jessie Jackson is a retired U.S. Marines veteran. He has one cousin, Joyce Bourrage Robinson, who retired as a Master Sergeant with the Mississippi Air National Guard.
Steven J's father, Steven D. Jackson recently retired from law enforcement after serving as chief of police in both the towns of DeKalb and Scooba with 24 years of service. He was the first African American to be appointed chief of police for DeKalb Police Department. Steven D. is also a lieutenant colonel where he has served on numerous deployments overseas most recently Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Steven's mother, Christina works for the state as a social worker with Mississippi Department of Child Protective Services. She has been with the state for nearly eight (8) years, handling foster care reviews. Both of Steven J's parents were sports athletes in high school. His mother played college softball at EMCC. Both Steven and his father were members of Kemper County's first two basketball state championship teams. Both played football, track and baseball. Steven's father shared some guidance from his high school Coach Charles Jackson that shaped his mental and physical fitness mindset. Coach Jackson stated, "You have to want it to win."
Like his father, Steven J. helped raise cattle on the family farm in Preston community. Jackson is no stranger to hard work or going through tough times.
Prior to the completion of highway patrol school, Steven J. has served as a combat infantry team leader in Bravo Company of 155th BCT in Iraq, Syria, and Kuwait during Operation Inherent Resolve. He returns home to endure arguably the toughest law enforcement training in the world with the Mississippi Highway Patrol. The training was 22 weeks or five months long. The first phase of training is physical and mental conditioning and then transitioned into defense tactics where they train in over 1,200 hours during the 22 weeks at the Academy.
The class started with 61 cadets' signing in and only 24 cadets graduated. Patrol school is difficult and demanding which explains the a high dropout rate. The school is designed to condition and enable a trooper to operate under extreme stress, whether it's emotionally, mentally and sometimes physically.