AUGUSTA -- Michael Coty was a brand new chief of police in Baileyville in the winter of 1988 when he first met Charlie Jackson.

Coty had submitted a membership application to the Maine Chiefs of Police Association without a sponsor. Jackson, as he had done for so many other chiefs, wrote down his own name.

"That was the beginning of an over-20-year friendship," Coty said.

Jackson, who devoted the last 32 years of his life to Maine law enforcement, was laid to rest Thursday with full military honors at the Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery. He was 88.

"I'm honored he chose me to be one of the people to speak at his funeral," said Coty, now judicial marshal for the state. "I can't think of anything that was more rewarding to me."

Jackson had already lived a full life when he moved from Massachusetts to become Newport police chief in 1976.

Jackson enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and served as a boatswains mate third class aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Core during World War II.

Honorably discharged in 1945, Jackson spent the next 18 years with John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company.

He joined the Georgetown, Mass., police department and after a short time was appointed that department's chief.

Jackson left Newport to become the chief of the Winthrop police in 1980. He remained there until his retirement in 1986.

Shortly thereafter, he accepted the position of executive director of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association. During his 13-year tenure, Jackson played a key role in establishing the Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial in front of the state Capitol.

"He's always had Maine law enforcement at the top of his list," said Winthrop Police Chief Joseph Young, who succeeded Jackson when he retired 22 years ago and developed a close friendship with Jackson.

The Chiefs of Police Association was near financial ruin when Jackson took over in the 1980s. The association is now a powerful voice for the law enforcement community, Young said.

"Part of that was due to Charlie and his tenaciousness to get things done," Young said. "I admired the man."

Jim Ferland first met Jackson when Ferland was police chief for Presque Isle in the early 1990s. The men developed a friendship when Ferland, now the administrator at the Chief Medical Examiner's office, moved to the Augusta area.

There is a lengthy list of people, particularly police chiefs, Jackson helped over the years.

"Charlie was small in stature, but he cast a very long shadow," Ferland said. "If Charlie was going to do something, he was going to give you 110 percent or he wasn't going to do it at all."

Jackson remained committed to the chief of police association after his retirement.

"I think he had a significant hand in the direction of law enforcement has taken in the last 20 years," Coty said.

Jackson found other avenues to remain active and vigorous after his retirement. He took college courses into his mid-80s and joined the Augusta Elks Club at 84, Ferland said.

"He loved to be around younger folks because at heart he was a young man," Ferland said. "He was just a delight."

Jackson asked Young, Coty and Ferland last year to help organize Jackson's burial service, which included representation from the Navy, American Legion and the Winthrop Honor Guard.

"We sent him off in the kind of way he wanted to go," Young said. "We felt very honored."

Craig Crosby--623-3811 Ext. 433

ccrosby@centralmaine.com