Diop Kamau
(Born Don Jackson, March 16, 1958)
Diop Kamau is an American civil rights activist, investigative journalist, licensed private investigator, and former law enforcement officer known for his groundbreaking undercover investigations into police misconduct. A former sergeant with the Hawthorne Police Department, Kamau transitioned to activism after witnessing the brutal beating of his father, a retired deputy sheriff, by Pomona police officers.
Throughout his career, Kamau has led over 5,000 investigations into police misconduct, forcing policy changes in more than 100 police departments and influencing state and federal law enforcement training programs. His investigative work has been featured on NBC, ABC, CBS, and Dateline, and his contributions to award-winning journalism have been acknowledged with four Emmy Awards and four Edward R. Murrow Awards.
Kamau founded PoliceAbuse.com in 1994, a national police oversight organization, and later expanded his work through the Equal Justice Project and the Courtroom Accountability Project, focusing on police accountability, citizen advocacy, and legal reform.
Early Life and Education
Born Don Jackson in South Los Angeles County on March 16, 1958, Kamau was raised in Compton, California. His father, Woodrow Jackson, was among the first Black deputies in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office, and his mother, Margie Faye Woods, was a nurse.
Kamau was part of the historic Los Angeles busing program in the early 1970s, which integrated Black students into predominantly white schools. He attended Birmingham High School, where he excelled both academically and athletically. He was:
He received a football and wrestling scholarship to California Lutheran College, where he played as a linebacker on the school's NAIA National Championship runner-up team. He also earned the school's prestigious Ironman Award, given to athletes who excel in multiple sports. After suffering a knee injury in his second year, he completed his degree in criminal justice.
Kamau later pursued graduate studies at Florida State University and earned a master's degree from Penn State University. He also served as an adjunct professor at Penn State, Florida A&M University, and Florida State University.
Law Enforcement Career
Kamau began his career with the Ventura County Sheriff's Department before transferring to the Hawthorne Police Department in 1982, where he became the department's youngest African American sergeant by 1986, earning the highest scores on three consecutive promotional exams.
As an undercover narcotics investigator, Kamau developed a reputation for dismantling drug networks and apprehending high-profile offenders. His expertise led to:
Kamau's investigative skills were so well-regarded that multiple police departments "borrowed" him to assist with their most complex operations. His commendations include a Certificate of Appreciation signed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff and multiple police chiefs for his work on a multi-jurisdictional burglary task force.
Transition to Activism and Investigative Work
In 1987, after Pomona police officers severely beat his father during a traffic stop, Kamau shifted his focus to civil rights advocacy and investigative journalism. He began conducting hidden camera investigations to expose police misconduct, using technology and tactics that predated modern digital activism.
In 1989, his NBC undercover investigation into racial profiling by the Long Beach Police Department captured Kamau being beaten, falsely arrested, and thrown through a plate-glass window. The case led to:
Kamau later founded PoliceAbuse.com, the first internet-based police misconduct reporting service, followed by the Equal Justice Project and the Courtroom Accountability Project, which advocate for legal reforms and provide resources to victims of police abuse.
Expert Witness and Media Contributions
Kamau is a court-recognized expert witness in police practices, racial profiling, and law enforcement misconduct. He has:
Kamau's investigative work has been featured on:
His editorials addressing policing and racial justice include:
Awards and Recognitions
Kamau has received numerous awards for his civil rights work, including:
Board Membership and Leadership
From 2018 to 2022, Kamau served on the Leon County Sheriff's Citizens Advisory Board, providing oversight on law enforcement practices. He has also trained young minority and female private investigators to conduct civil rights investigations, furthering his commitment to justice and equality.
Personal Life
In 1992, Kamau married actress Tyra Ferrell. After their marriage, he legally changed his name from Don Jackson to Diop Kamau, a West African name meaning "Quiet Soldier."
The couple resides in Tallahassee, Florida, where Kamau continues his work in police reform and civil rights advocacy.