Jacob Jones, a Fayetteville police officer, has been charged with six counts of sexual battery and dismissed from his job following the Fayetteville Police Department’s investigations into sexual misconduct allegations against him, Interim Police Chief Todd Joyce announced at a press conference Wednesday evening.
The charges stem from an incident on May 13 in which Jones, 24, was reviewing security footage with a female employee at a business on Bragg Boulevard following a call for service there.
“It was during this interaction that Jacob Jones inappropriately touched the employee multiple times,” Joyce said.
After the police department received information about the incident on June 10, Jones was immediately placed on administrative leave.
“Let me be perfectly clear: The Fayetteville Police Department holds its office officers to the highest standards of conduct, both on and off duty,” Joyce said. “The badge we wear is a symbol of public trust, and we will not tolerate any employee who violates that trust. When an officer commits a criminal offense, they will be investigated and arrested if probable cause exists.”
Joyce said Jones was hired by the police department on Nov. 14, 2022. His assignment was as a patrol officer in the field operations bureau. Jones was arrested at the Fayetteville Police Department on Wednesday.
Joyce emphasized the department’s commitment to transparency when an officer is reported to have engaged in inappropriate or illegal conduct. He said the department maintains a “very rigorous recruiting process” for officers, and supervisors in the internal affairs unit routinely review body camera footage to ensure misconduct is investigated thoroughly.
“The part that bothers me, and should bother everyone within this department, is when someone erodes that trust for the oath that they have taken,” Joyce said.
Jones is currently being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center on a $25,000 secured bond.
Government accountability reporter Evey Weisblat can be reached at eweisblat@cityviewnc.com or 216-527-3608.
Did you find this story useful or interesting? It was made possible by donations from readers like you to the News Foundation of Greater Fayetteville, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to an informed democracy in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation so CityView can bring you more news and information like this.
