Officer in the Little Rock Police Department about to begin 51 years of duty

Little Rock, Arkansas – For over fifty years, a member of the Little Rock Police Department has worked in law enforcement.

Lieutenant C.P. Thomas Jr., who will soon turn 51, expressed that the past 50 years had “gone by so fast.”

When Thomas was sworn in, he was 22 years old. Fifty years later, at 72, he’s still got his feet under him.

“I don’t even feel my age,” Thomas said.

Not missing a beat, the lieutenant says, “I feel good.” I’m fortunate to be in good health.

However, he said, “I don’t know how much I have left in the tank,” in response to the question of how long he will stay on the job.

After serving for 14 years as a field training officer, Thomas advanced to sergeant and, in 1994, lieutenant status.

He has received numerous awards for his service throughout the years, including the first Medal of Valor from the LRPD.

According to Thomas, a lot has changed in the past fifty years, including cars, weaponry, and technology in particular.

When Thomas began his work, he stated, “patrol officers didn’t even have a portable radio.”
Over the years, Thomas has witnessed a number of officers come and go from the force, but his influence also reaches the new, younger cops who are hired by the department.

“These young people are a family to me,” Thomas said. “I do my very best to take care of them to make sure they go home at night to their families.”

Reflecting on the past, Thomas stated that he would simply advise his 22-year-old self “to do the right thing.”

Hannah, Thomas’s daughter, has been a sergeant in the Little Rock Police Department for almost ten years. Thomas expressed his confidence that she would eventually become a lieutenant.