The Washington Post
October 14, 1998, Wednesday, Final Edition
Officer Leaves Force After Little League Dispute
A Fairfax County police officer who had two volunteers arrested when they tried to start a Little League in competition with the one he headed overstepped his bounds and has left the force, police officials said.
An investigation of Lt. Larry A. Jackson concluded that his behavior violated departmental regulations, acting Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said in a letter to Melvin and Susan Entwisle. The Entwisles were arrested at their home on Feb. 24, 1997, and were charged with trespassing on school grounds after they tried to recruit players for their new baseball league at the Bryant Alternative School in Fairfax.
"Appropriate measures have been imposed to prevent a recurrence of this type of incident," Manger said in the letter dated Oct. 8. "I can assure you that such conduct is not representative of Fairfax County police officers and will not be tolerated."
Officials with the police department's internal affairs bureau said yesterday that Jackson retired Oct. 9. They would not say whether his decision to leave the force was linked to the incident involving the Entwisles. Jackson did not return phone calls to his home.
Trespassing charges against the Entwisles were dropped in May 1997 by the Fairfax County commonwealth's attorney's office. In May the couple filed a $ 150,000 lawsuit against Jackson and the police department, alleging that Jackson abused his authority as an officer to support his position in the Bucknell Little League.
Yesterday the couple's attorney, Richard Bolger, praised the police department's ruling on Jackson but said it does not correct the fact that the Entwisles were disgraced in front of their children. "As a citizen of Fairfax County, I don't want someone who abuses his power to be on the force," Bolger said. "But I don't think it's justice for the Entwisles, who were arrested improperly."
The Entwisles said the league was their life before Jackson took over as president in 1996. The couple did not support Jackson's bid to lead the league, and after his election Jackson thanked them for years of service and revoked their membership, they said.
Eager to stay involved in youth sports, the couple got permission from Bryant Alternative School to recruit children for new teams. Bolger said Jackson was also on school grounds that day. Jackson became angry when he saw the Entwisles and demanded that they leave, Bolger said. Two days later, the Entwisles were arrested at their home.
Last month, Jackson stepped down as president of the Bucknell Little League but remains an active member. Current members of the league's board of directors would not comment on the controversy but praised Jackson's commitment.
"Larry gave his heart and soul to [the league] and youth sports for two years," said newly elected board member Phil Lutz. "He's a very honest person, and I think he's a very good person."