Jerry Jones' gift to police officers ruled an 'unintentional' ethics violation

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones provided nearly 200 North Little Rock, Ark., police officers with 2016 Cowboys game tickets for their families, along with airfare and hotel rooms — an estimated $300,000 gesture from Jones to his hometown police force.

The problem was that gift violated a law on gifts for public servants, and Jones was censured by the Arkansas Ethics Commission.

Ultimately, the Arkansas Ethics Commission decided it was an unintentional violation after Jones explained that the gift wasn’t meant to be an award, but rather positive reinforcement for the work of the police volunteering when they’re not on duty. It also was determined that the officers “relied upon the resolution’s erroneous conclusion that your acceptance of the gifts (was) outside the scope” of the law.

"Gifts like this to public officials, especially police officers, undermines public confidence in these officers and city officials, in that their ability to render fair and impartial treatment comes into question," said Russ Racop, the man who filed the initial complaint.

Jones, who grew up in North Little Rock, received a letter of warning for a first offense, while Sgt. Michael Gibbons will not be sanctioned despite admittedly violating the ethics law “based upon a showing of good cause.”