ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - For the first time, former colleagues of Phillip Jackson, who spent 27 years serving Dougherty County as a paramedic and supervisor before his retirement, have spoken out. Phillip Jackson recently died from a gunshot wound, and his wife is charged with his murder, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).

Deputies responded on Jan. 31 to a domestic violence call involving the couple at a home on Georgia Highway 41 in Buena Vista. When deputies arrived, they reportedly found Phillip Jackson with a single gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to the hospital, where he died on Feb. 7.

Amanda Jackson, his wife, was initially charged on Feb. 2 with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of certain crimes. After Phillip Jackson died, Amanda Jackson was also charged on Feb. 9 with malice murder and felony murder. She was taken into custody at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office the same day without incident, according to the GBI.

The case will be prosecuted by the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

Honoring His Legacy

In an official statement released this week, Dougherty County EMS honored Phillip Jackson’s groundbreaking legacy:

It is with deep respect and heavy hearts that we acknowledge the passing of retired Dougherty County EMS Supervisor, Phillip Jackson. Phillip dedicated 27 years of service to our county and to the profession of emergency medical services. Throughout his career, he exemplified professionalism, courage, and an unwavering commitment to patient care and public safety.

As the county’s first SWAT Medic, Jackson established the framework for tactical emergency medical support in Dougherty County.

“His work laid the foundation for the integration of EMS into high-risk law enforcement operations, ensuring that lifesaving care was available when it mattered most,” Dougherty County EMS stated. “Many of today’s paramedics stand on the shoulders of the lessons he taught and the example he set,” the agency noted.

Beyond Dougherty County

Jackson was also the CEO and President of the National Association of Tactical Educators (NATEC).

In a statement released this week, NATEC’s Vice President Brandon Brown described Jackson’s profound impact:

“NATEC experienced the profound loss of its founder and Chief Executive Officer, Phillip Jackson. Phillip was an extraordinarily accomplished and dedicated instructor, leader, and public servant whose decades of service in education and training had a lasting and far-reaching impact. Through his unwavering commitment, he trained countless students from around the world in tactical medicine and related disciplines. The knowledge and skills he imparted have impacted innumerable lives and will continue to do so for many years to come.”

A Public Safety Tribute

The Dougherty County EMS community will pay tribute to Jackson with a procession of public safety vehicles departing from Dougherty County EMS Headquarters at 1436 Palmyra Road in Albany at 10 a.m on Feb. 28. The procession will travel to Byne Memorial Baptist Church at 2832 Ledo Road where a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m.

“Phillip’s impact on our organization and on EMS throughout our region cannot be overstated,” Dougherty County EMS stated. “His years of dedicated service, leadership, and mentorship leave a lasting mark that will not be forgotten.”

Kimberly Littleton, Executive Director of the Georgia EMS Association, started a GoFundMe in support of Phillip Jackson’s family and to cover business expenses of his company, NATEC.

It has been a difficult time for all of us that were friends with Phillip and seeing how everything happened. We just really want to support his family and we want to support the instructors that will continue the training, because that’s what Phillip would have wanted. Phillip would have definitely wanted this to be a celebration of his life, and not for us to sit around and mourn his loss. We are all going to miss him, but he would want us to remember the good times and all of the great things he did that not only benefited Dougherty County, but also other communities in this state. We just have a lot of people that knew Phillip across the state that are going to try and make arrangements to be here because they certainly wanted to pay honor and tribute to him.

The Investigation Continues

The GBI said the investigation into Phillip Jackson’s death is active and ongoing. Anyone with information regarding the case is encouraged to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Americus at 229-931-2439 or the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Buena Vista at 229-649-3841. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477).

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