In the spirit of Women’s History Month, the Mesquite Police Department—Texas has spotlighted one of its own: Public Safety Communications Manager Tammy Thomas. With a career that stretches over 17 years with the department, Thomas first took to the dispatcher's console in 2008. Her tenure has been stippled with accolades, such as MCPAAA Civilian of the Month, Dispatcher of the Year in 2015, and Civilian of the Year a year later in 2016.
Thomas’s contributions expand further, earning her a Life Saving Award in 2024 and the distinction of holding a Master TCOLE (Commission on Law Enforcement) license. The Mesquite Police Department expressed gratitude on their social media, publicly acknowledging her. They said, "Thank you for your dedication, professionalism, and all the contributions you have made to our department."
Before ascending to the role of manager, Thomas played a crucial part in the operational side of law enforcement communication. She served as the Communications Training Officer, Acting Supervisor, and Interim Training Coordinator. Her role is critical: she oversees dispatch operations and acts as the Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC) as well as the Local Agency Security Officer (LASO) for the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS). This system, essential for modern law enforcement, is a vast computerized database used by officers and security professionals.
