Edward Thomas (police officer)

Edward Alfred Thomas (September 23, 1919 – August 10, 2015) one of the first African Americans to work as a police officer for the Houston Police Department.

He was born on September 23, 1919 in Keachi, Louisiana. He attended Southern University. Thomas was drafted and served in the Invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. He joined the Houston Police Department in 1948. Thomas served for 63 years, the longest period of service of any municipal employee.

In July 2015 Houston Police Headquarters was renamed the Edward A. Thomas Building.