East Aurora High School Alumni

THOMAS NOMINATED AS THE NEXT TOP COPY IN AURORA


April 18, 2008
By MATT HANLEY mhanley@scn1.com
The Aurora Police Department's second in command is now the nominee to be the next police chief.

On Thursday, Mayor Tom Weisner announced he has chosen Deputy Chief Greg Thomas, 47, to succeed Bill Powell, who retired Monday. Thomas' nomination still has to be approved by the City Council, likely when aldermen meet in May.

Thomas has been serving as interim chief and deputy chief this week. On Wednesday, the mayor told Thomas he would be the nominee.

"Greg is a results-oriented professional," Weisner said in a press release. "He consistently strives to improve operations and encourages employees to develop innovative solutions to problems."

Powell also endorsed the choice.

"Greg's promotion provides the APD with the stability, integrity, innovation and teamwork at the top of the police department to continue that success," he said. "Having worked closely with Greg over the past few years, I have no doubt that he has the necessary qualities to serve the city well as chief of police."

Thomas, an East Aurora High School graduate, started as a cadet in 1978. The plan was to earn money for college so he could become an attorney. But while patrolling East Side streets from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., he fell in love with police work.

"Those were happy days," he said. "I could have done 30 years and been as happy as I can be."

A forced move to investigations and later