Manatee 100 Club honors LBK Officer John Thomas

Longboat Key Police Officer John Thomas is the Manatee 100 Club’s 2012 Police Officer of the Year.

The 100 Club, a group of 100 professionals in the community that provide support to injured and fallen law-enforcement officers and their family, chooses the officer from a list of nominees provided by local police chiefs.

Longboat Key Police Capt. Monica Quarmby nominated Thomas for the honor in a letter to Police Chief Pete Cumming in February, in which she described him as a “reliable, competent, compassionate and professional police officer.”

According to Quarmby’s letter, Thomas’ efforts led to the arrest of a man who allegedly stole more than $8,000 in artwork and statues. She also cites Thomas’ “expert interview skills” that he used to investigate a case involving the misuse of a rental property and his compassionate assistance in a drowning investigation that helped a family deal with the loss of their wife and mother.

Thomas joined the Longboat Key Police Department in November 2009, after 22 years with the Bradenton Police Department. He received the 100 Club honor last year and has also been named Police Officer of the Year by the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key and the Sons of the American Revolution.

After receiving his latest plaque Tuesday, Thomas described what he enjoys about his work on the Key.

“I like the people, and I think I speak for most of the police officers out here when I say that the community seems really grateful for the work that we do.”

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].