Ex-auxiliary police chief suing city for ‘retaliation’

April 29--LAWRENCE -- Fired Auxiliary Police Chief Jay Jackson is suing the city, saying he was fired in retaliation for testifying against Melix Bonilla, a former deputy police chief scheduled to go on trial for corruption charges next month.

Jackson, terminated as both auxiliary police chief and a civilian facilities manager at the Police Department, is described as a key witness in Bonilla's criminal extortion, fraud and conspiracy case. Bonilla is accused of illegally swapping 13 city-owned vehicles for four Chevrolet Impalas in a trade with a supporter of former Mayor William Lantigua. His trial is scheduled for May 12.

Called before the Essex County Grand Jury, Jackson testified that Bonilla threatened to have him fired if he didn't help him with the illegal car swap. Jackson said he feared losing his job, his only source of income and health insurance after he suffered a heart attack four years earlier, according to grand jury minutes.

Jackson's civil suit against the city says "he is being retaliated against by the (city) because of his testimony before the grand jury and because he is a potential witness in the upcoming trial of Deputy Chief Melix Bonilla."

The suit specifies Jackson was terminated from his job as auxiliary police chief, which was unpaid, and civilian facilities director, which paid $47,000 annually, due to his testimony and because he's a potential witness in Bonilla's trial. Jackson was fired from his police department jobs after new Mayor Daniel Rivera took office on Jan. 2.

Bonilla was a political ally of former Mayor William Lantigua and served as his campaign manager.

The lawsuit, filed April 17, also says the city retaliated against Jackson by illegally releasing private and personal information about him to the press and public, including Police Department internal affairs reports.

In November 2013, the city also refused to allow Jackson to seek emergency medical care for an eye injury, the lawsuit says.

The suit, filed by Haverhill attorney Thomas Gleason, says Jackson has "experienced personal injuries, severe emotional distress, damage to his personal and professional expectation, lost wages and benefits, future lost wages and benefits, damages to his earning capacity, medical expenses and attorney's fees."

Jackson is seeking at least $105,000 and other unknown and unspecified damages, according to the suit.

Bonilla's defense attorney, Alex Cain of North Andover, has been pushing for months for access of Jackson's personnel records and internal affairs reports. Earlier this month, Cain said he had just received 34 taped interviews involving Jackson and internal affairs investigations conducted by the Lawrence Police Department and that he needed to thoroughly review the information prior to trial.

The Eagle-Tribune also obtained internal affairs reports involving Jackson under the provisions of the state's public records law.

Based on the documents, the Eagle-Tribune previously reported Jackson was disciplined in 2012 for sexually harassing men he commanded as auxiliary chief. One complaint alleged Jackson parked his cruiser under a bridge while on midnight patrol and graphically described sexual torture by Afghan terrorists.

The complaining officer said Jackson questioned him about his opinion on the subject matter along with "my views on homosexual men."

"I was immediately uncomfortable with the situation," the officer wrote.

Jackson held the unpaid auxiliary police chief's position for 26 years.

The city must file a written response to the suit by Aug. 15, and the case must be resolved by April 2017, according to court papers.

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Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter @EagleTribJill.

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