ONE mourner might have captured the moment accurately: “When you see so many retired police personnel attend a man’s funeral, he must have been the greatest in his field.”

Those words were used to mark the farewell celebration of the life of retired Commissioner of Police Lucius Anthony Thomas, for which hundreds of people crammed the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew last Wednesday, even forcing it into overflow mode as speaker after speaker, and singers as well, lauded the man often referred to as the “best commissioner ever”, “rank and file police’s best friend”, and “loyal stalwart” of the officer corps.

The term “best commissioner ever” was like an echo at the service which witnessed the turnout of retired and active ‘Who’s Who’ of policing over the last 50 years.

Thomas, who served as commissioner from 2005 to 2007, dedicated 38 years of the 73 he spent overall on this land to the Jamaica Constabulary Force. He lost his valiant battle with cancer on January 18.

“He was a true, humble gentleman with great interpersonal skills; a man of integrity who was very supportive of his own commanding officers,” chairman of the Police Officers’ Association, Senior Superintendent of Police Wayne Cameron uttered. “He was the only commissioner of police who maintained an open door policy,” Cameron continued, to much applause. “He had a heart filled with kindness,” the senior officer said.

Chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation, Corporal Rohan James described Thomas as “a noble and distinguished gentleman who has left a void”.

Thomas, James said, was a man of intellect and compassion who taught police personnel to respect humility and humanity.

“He always told us that corruption should never be entertained. Commissioner Thomas did well. He has left a legacy,” James said, going on to reveal information from his last visit to an ailing Thomas about some of the things the federation should fight to achieve.

“He told me to ensure that we continue the fight for the betterment of the force, and he also wanted us to continue the move for members of the JCF to be protected — given the opportunity to own their own firearms,” James went on.

In emphasising the regard he held for police personnel, former Commissioner Dr Carl Williams said that Thomas, who built his reputation as a member of the force’s Special Branch, was known to drive around Jamaica with wads of cash which he would dole out to policemen he would meet on the street in a show of encouragement for their work.

“He was so dearly loved, admired, and respected by the men in the JCF,” Dr Williams added.

In remembering Thomas, niece Philmar Powell, an inspector of police, told a story of the Murray Mountain-born man as one who passed 10 Jamaica Certificate of Examinations subjects in one sitting, and began teaching at his alma mater, Murray Mountain School. His younger siblings were forced to call him ‘Sir’ even while at home, and that might have inspired Thomas to do higher training in education.

“He applied for a place in Mico College and was accepted, and on the first day that he was to report to Mico he got up in the morning and told his grandmother that he had dreamt that he had seen his name written ‘Lucius Thomas, commissioner of police’. His grandma said, ‘Son, follow your your dream.’ So he then changed his mind about going to Mico and went straight to Harmon Barracks, passed the police [entrance] test, and the rest is history.”

Powell continued: He was a commissioner who defended the rank and file. On the other hand, he was a disciplinarian. He had a vested interest in youth development and never forgot where he came from. He enjoyed music, in particular [songs by black American] Otis Redding; he would often attend ‘Jazz and Blues’ events; he loved rocksteady music. In sports he would bemoan the deterioration of West Indies cricket, and speak highly of past West Indies teams. He was also passionate about dominoes,” Powell said.

Thomas was eulogised by Assistant Commissioner of Police Donovan Graham as a “blessing to the JCF” and one who opened his door to everyone, including a morning with “one Miguel Collins, or Sizzla, who had sought audience with him”.

Good friend and former colleague Leon Rose, a retired assistant commissioner, said Thomas, who replaced Francis Forbes as commissioner, had his own style of leadership and management.

“Those who were to be promoted had to be validated by their peers. He went around the island promoting worthy individuals on the spot. He was a man who looked out for the poor and dispossessed, and he always maintained that the reputation of the JCF remained intact,” Rose said.

Delivering the homily, the Reverend Devon Dick reminded mourners, who included Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson, who read the first lesson, that “life is a mixed bag that has its spills and thrills”. He urged those present to affirm the ‘master’ of life, as without God’s vision “we will perish”.

Thomas’s body was interred at Dovecot Memorial Park and Crematory in St Catherine, which was preceded by a firing of the volleys — a ceremonial gun salute..