Who is Matthew Jackson? Detroit police officer viral for not wearing pants in court- Watch

Detroit police officer Matthew Jackson went viral after appearing without pants via Zoom at a court hearing. Judge Perkins called out the incident.

Updated on: Oct 30, 2025, 05:26:16 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

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Matthew Jackson, a police officer at the Detroit Police Department, has sparked a row after a video of his court appearance without pants on went viral. Officer Jackson was making an appearance on Monday at Detroit's 36th District Court via Zoom in a reckless driving case when Judge Sean B Perkins noticed that Jackson did not have pants on.

Officer Matthrew Jackson of Detroit Police Department and Judge Sean Perkins of Detroit's 36th District court. (X)

Perkins then went after Jackson for not wearing pants, and the video of the court session went viral. Eventually, it sparked an apology from the Detroit Police Department.

"Officer Jackson. Good morning to you. Can you put your appearance on the record, please?" Judge Perkins can be seen telling Officer Jackson in the video. As Jackson raises his hand, the judge notices that Jackson does not have any pants on.

"You got some pants on, officer?" Perkins asks, to which officer Jackson says, "No, sir."

Here's the viral video:

Detroit Police Apologize: ‘Unprofessional’

After the incident, the Detroit Police Department issued a statement apologizing to the residents of the city. In the statement, the Detroit Police Department said officer Jackson's conduct was "not representative of the professionalism."

Also read: Baltimore Police officer's viral video of attempting to run over man sparks row, probe launched

“The Detroit Police Department requires its officers to represent themselves in a dignified and professional manner while attending court proceedings” police chief Todd Bettison said. “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.”

“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.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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