Cop goes viral for making virtual court appearance without pants: ‘Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?’
ByPatrick Reilly
Published Oct. 30, 2025, 9:27 a.m. ET
103 Comments
A Detroit police officer appeared for a virtual court hearing wearing the top half of his uniform — but with no pants on.
Officer Matthew Jackson introduced himself to the virtual district courtroom on Oct. 27 with nothing below the waist but a pair of underwear — eliciting a question from the judge not often heard in court, now-viral video of the proceedings show.
“You got some pants on, officer?” Judge Sean Perkins asks.
3Officer Matthew Jackson was wearing the top of his uniform and underwear during the virtual hearing.36th District Court via Storyful
“No, sir,” Jackson confesses, before moving the camera up so his lower half was no longer in frame.
The hearing, about a woman accused of drag racing and disorderly conduct, then proceeded as if nothing had happened, according to the Detroit News.
Attorney TaTaNisha Reed, who was representing the defendant at the hearing, couldn’t believe what she was seeing — and interjected to call attention to the officer’s shocking lack of clothing.
“I was trying to figure it out. Like am I seeing what I think I’m seeing? Especially with a police officer. So it was an interesting day to say the least,” Reed said.
“I said, ‘Judge, he needs to alter his camera,’ and that’s when the judge said, ‘Oh,'” Reed added.
The Detroit police department said it is investigating and plans to remind officers about proper court etiquette and attire.
3The judge was left stunned by the policeman’s attire — or lack thereof.36th District Court via Storyful
Perkins was “stunned, obviously,” his boss, 36th District Courts Chief Judge William McConico, said.
“He was shocked. Officer Jackson is a person he’s known,” McConico told WXYZ.
Perkins said he ultimately decided to keep the court proceedings going because he knows Jackson to have always been “a very professional police officer,” according to the chief judge.
3Attorney TaTaNisha Reed tried to call the judge’s attention to the situation.36th District Court via Storyful
“He’s always been very courteous to the citizens, and that’s why it was a little bit stunning,” McConico said.
Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said that his officers are required to “represent themselves in a dignified and professional manner while attending court proceedings.
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“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,” he said, and apologized to all those who attended the hearing.
