Why yes, that is Jarron Jackson dressed as a Ghostbuster

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A couple of years ago, Jarron Jackson was attending the annual Mayor's Christmas Parade in Hampden when he spotted the Charm City Ghostbusters—or, as he calls them now, "the team." As a group of people decked out in flight suits and proton packs walked alongside the iconic Ghostbusters vehicle from the beloved '80s movie, Jackson felt a rush of nostalgia and purpose. I want to be a part of that, he thought.

In his role as associate vice president for public safety at Johns Hopkins University, Jackson is a core member of the executive team that oversees about 1,200 public safety officers who keep students, faculty, and staff safe on all the university's campuses. Before coming to Hopkins in 2018, Jackson had a 16-year career with the Baltimore City Police Department, where he started as an officer and worked his way up to captain of the Southeastern District.

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So that day at the Mayor's Christmas Parade, did Jackson feel the need to expand his purview to include protecting the city from paranormal predators? Not exactly. In fact, to answer a frequently asked question, Charm City Ghostbusters does not handle hauntings or hunt ghosts.

Rather, the 40-some members of CCGB are a group of cosplayers with a strong affinity for the 1984 paranormal comedy, as well as its many spinoffs and remakes. ("The original movie is absolutely the best," states Jackson unequivocally.)

CCGB is also a volunteer group that brings awareness to good causes. The Ghostbusters make appearances at charity walks, block parties, and various other events held by charitable organizations, including United Way, KidsPeace, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

When asked to describe the draw of Charm City Ghostbusters, for himself as well as spectators, Jackson chalks it up to the movie's central themes and widespread appeal. "I'm a sci-fi buff, and I love the intersection of sci-fi and comedy, the sense of family, and saving the world. Package all that into one really good movie in the '80s. That's why I've always felt connected to Ghostbusters," he says. Jackson adds that the movie inspires people like him who don't necessarily resonate with typical superheroes or action stars.

"This is not the Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone '80s action movie where you blow up a tank. I'm not that guy," he says. But a scientist who falls into a circumstance where he has to help people? That's more relatable. "Ghostbusters are portrayed as everyday people," Jackson says. "And I think that's why people can see themselves in it."

CCGB membership requires a rather extensive application process. That's something Jackson both appreciates and relates to professionally. "It's not just like, hey, welcome to the club," he says. "You have to really explain why you want to be a part of this team, which I think is a great thing. You screen out people who don't want to do it for the right reasons and bring in people who have a real affection for it. Because this is a volunteer group," Jackson points out, "you need people who are committed to it and willing to spend their time, their effort, and their creativity to be a part of this team."

Image caption: Charm City Ghostbuster Jarron Jackson with the team's car, a customized 1962 Cadillac hearse.

Image credit: WILL KIRK / JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

In his role at Hopkins, Jackson is also taking his time to find the right people for the job of campus public safety officers. "Hiring takes a long time, especially if you're looking for a very specific type of officer," he explains. "And we really look for officers who want to provide public safety and have a problem-solving approach. We're not looking for, you know, the young officer who wants to drive really fast and chase bad guys."

Being a part of CCGB in his off-hours also indulges Jackson's creative side. Members commit to procuring or creating their own uniforms and equipment that's as close to movie-quality as possible. "You can't just go to Party City," Jackson says. "A lot of folks on the team are really adept at 3D printing, painting, sewing, graphic design, you name it."

Jackson himself is an accomplished foam smith, as he calls it. Working with craft foam and glue, he has made everything from swords to a warrior princess crown for a co-worker's daughter. "You'd be surprised what you can do with foam and some paint," Jackson says.

Charm City Ghostbusters' uniforms, equipment, and car—a customized 1962 Cadillac hearse—are "great attention-grabbers" at events, Jackson says. People will often approach him and other team members.

For Jackson, one of only two people of color on the CCGB team, it's the encounters with certain young fans that are the most meaningful to him. He's frequently seen kids or their parents whose faces light up when they see one of the Ghostbusters who looks like them. "They come up to me and say, 'Hey, I wanna take my picture with you,' because they can see themselves in me," he says.

"It's really moving to be able to do things like that, where it may be a quick moment in time for us, but it's a lifelong memory for those parents and for those kids. I love that."