Senior Police Officer Gail Denise Thomas

“I challenge you [to] not mourn for Gail Thomas, because Gail is all right.  Mourn for our loss and the fact that world is a little less bright because of the loss of her physical presence in our life.  We may not see her but she will forever be in our hearts and in our actions.”

–Maj. Chris Leighty, APD Zone 5 Commander

Senior Police Officer Gail Thomas was a 20-year veteran of the Atlanta Police Department.  She was struck and killed by a drunk driver on January 24, 2012 while responding a call for assistance at an accident scene on Interstate 75.  She had just arrived at the scene and was exiting her car to divert traffic away from the accident scene when the drunk driver hit her, pinning her between the two cars.  The driver, who’s blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit, was later convicted of vehicular manslaughter and sentenced to 16 years in jail.

Officer Thomas will be remembered as a devoted mother, a great police officer, and a mentor to many young officers coming out of the academy.  Her kind heart and infectious smile left a lasting impression on everyone she met.  She leaves behind a daughter, Jasmine, a student at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.

Additional Information:

• Officers Down Memorial Page
• Obituary on AJC.com