Michael Jackson's Former Bodyguard Speaks Out | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Fresno, CA At first, Larry Allison was hesitant to talk on camera. But he wants people to know more about what Michael Jackson was really like, and less about the conflict that has overshadowed his death.

Larry Allison has quite a few stories to share.

"This right here is the actual, me my partner, this is at the reception on Wall Street. There's Michael, Liza and I," said Allison.

One of his most memorable is working as a personal bodyguard for Michael Jackson.

Allison said, "We would be flying and he would sit down on the airplane and say, Larry, tell me a cop story, make me laugh."

Allison is from Tulare. For years, he worked as a Tulare County Deputy Marshall. But a move to Palm Springs changed all of that.

"And I started meeting publicists and managers and things like that. And one thing led to another," said Allison.

He worked with Michael Jackson between 2001 and 2002.

"There was still a lot of cop in me at the time. I was watching him like a hawk. Say what you want, but I was there," said Allison.

Like most of the world, Allison was shocked when he found out about Jackson's death. He says Jackson was lonely and often misunderstood, but refutes reports that he was a bad parent or abused prescription drugs.

Allison said, "I know he was in a lot of pain because of an accident he had filming a video, but I never saw any. He was always coherent. I never saw him out of control. I never saw him under the influence."

Instead of focusing on what made him controversial, Allison wants people to remember Jackson for what made him remarkable.

Allison returned back to the Valley in 2005 and worked with the Exeter Police Department. He retired from the department this past February. But he does still take on personal protection jobs here and there.

He's in LA right now in case the Jackson family needs more help in these upcoming weeks.