Obituary: Retired Hamilton police detective Mike Thomas ‘never hesitated to take on a challenge’
Hamilton Spectator journalist and author Jon Wells says retired detective Mike Thomas was all about public service, and the last time they spoke exemplified that.
Wells - who got to know Thomas by writing a series, then a book, on one of the murder cases the veteran detective worked on - says Thomas called him in February when he was facing hard days in a two-year battle against prostate cancer.
He asked Wells if he would write a story about how important it is for men to get their prostates checked and stay on top of their health. In the article, Thomas touched on how policing is about public service, that to serve and protect" is more than a catch phrase, and that it stays with an officer.
I believe that was Mike wanting to do one last public service, do the right thing before he died, because he knew he didn't have long, even though he was pledging to keep fighting hard," said Wells.
Thomas, who served with Hamilton police for 35 years, and four years as president of the Hamilton Police Association, died June 11. He was 61.
Police association friends echo Well's sentiments about service and Thomas. Not only was Thomas the first full-time president of the HPA, which represents 850 officers and 325 civilians, he instituted bylaw changes to have the post elected by the rank and file. Thomas became the first elected HPA president.
In November 2016, Thomas ran as the NDP candidate in the byelection to fill the Niagara West-Glanbrook seat of departing Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak. He came second to winner and PC candidate Sam Oosterhoff, capturing 25 per cent of the vote compared to 54 per cent for Oosterhoff.
He was an outstanding individual," said HPA president Const. Jaimi Bannon. He always put our members first. He never hesitated to take on a challenge."
Detective Const. Derek Donn, secretary-treasurer of the HPA, joked Thomas liked to talk, but had the gift of making a speech at the last moment and having it roll off his tongue."
Mike was a very positive, energetic, funny guy," said Donn. His passion was to do the best for the workers. At times, he would take the gloves off ... When you lose one of those great guys, a building block of our organization, it just crushes you."
Donn said Thomas' funeral at Bay Gardens Funeral Home on Rymal Road East attracted a huge crowd, including police Chief Frank Bergen and other senior officers, past and present.
Thomas was born Jan. 23, 1960, and grew up in Stoney Creek. He attended Saltfleet District High School and started out as a cadet with the Hamilton police.
He served in the vice and drugs unit for six years where he was involved in the first crack cocaine seizure in the city. As a constable, he oversaw operation Hard Rock in 1990-91. It employed an undercover officer from the RCMP and police estimated it put about 90 per cent of Hamilton's crack dealers out of business.
From there, he moved into the major crime unit. Wells featured Thomas in his series called Post-Mortem" that ran in The Spec in 2006. It detailed the investigation into the murder of Yvette Budram, whose body was found in a field in Flamborough in the spring of 2001. Thomas was case manager.
Police used unique techniques to identify Budram and determined the Mississauga woman had been dumped in the field in the fall of 2000. Her husband, Mohan Ramkissoon, was convicted of murder in 2004.
Thomas was the most approachable senior detective in Major Crime," Wells wrote. He was a physical presence, went over six feet, 200 pounds-plus, but did not come across as hard-boiled, cynical. Everyone liked talking to him. A good listener, avuncular, he broke easily into a chuckle in the course of regular conversation."
After he retired as a staff sergeant and HPA president in 2014, Thomas worked at Hydro One as manager of investigation and field security.
Thomas is survived by his wife Lucy, children Lindsey and Mark, and five grandchildren. He is also survived by his mother Jean, sister Barb and brother Rob.
Daniel Nolan can be reached at dannolanwrites@gmail.com