Officer was key to break in auto burglaries case

Last summer, Longboat Key police got an unexpected break in a string of auto burglaries that occurred at beach accesses: A 42-year-old man was arrested by St. Lucie County sheriff’s deputies Aug. 7, on outstanding Sarasota County warrants for dealing in stolen property. During their investigation, deputies found a stolen credit card from a Holmes Beach case. Deputies notified the city’s police, which relayed the information to Longboat Key police.

Longboat Key Police Officer John Thomas followed up with the case. He and Capt. Kristina Roberts interviewed the suspect in jail, where he eventually confessed and eventually agreed to go with them to the scene where some burglaries had occurred. The effort resulted in charges for five Longboat Key and three Holmes beach break-ins — and the recovery of many stolen items.

“Officer Thomas worked diligently following up with those cases,” Police Chief Al Hogle wrote. “He utilized numerous resources including his unique skills/abilities with interview techniques.”

Thomas, 49, is the 2011 Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key Police Officer of the Year.

According to Hogle’s nomination letter, Thomas has been instrumental in several cases involving employee theft from local businesses. In addition to investigating criminal cases, Thomas has also managed several death incidents that required investigation and documentation.

“His expertise with contacts, interviews and documentation fully leaves no stone unturned,” Hogle wrote.

Thomas, who joined the Longboat Key Police Department in November 2009 after 22 years as a Bradenton police officer and detective, wanted to be a police officer as a teen because he wanted to help people and fight crime. But after serving in the U.S. Navy, he began to consider becoming a firefighter but was unable to do so because of his eyesight. He joined the Bradenton Police Department in 1987.

Thomas responded to and investigated many violent crimes in Bradenton, including homicides, sexual assaults and robberies. He spent much of his time as a detective working behind a desk. But he likes the fact that Longboat Key’s low crime rates along with his duties as a patrol officer give him the chance to interact with citizens and also follow up with cases.

“Here, you get to have more of an active part,” he said.

Thomas said that as the result of the summer auto-burglary investigation he was able to reunite people with their property. Some of the items were monetarily valuable, but other items were priceless, such as photographs.

“The best thing is to be able to help people get back to the normal part of life,” Thomas said.