THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE ARTICLE BY JENNIFER BAILEY
ABOVE:
Larry Thomason spent 49 years with Danville police, including 13 as director of public safety, before retiring in 2019. He died last week at 78.
DANVILLE — In Larry Thomason’s day, the positions of police and fire chief took up a single line on the city’s administrative organizational chart — one person for what have since been split into two jobs.
“Larry was such an instrumental force in advancing public safety in Danville,” former Mayor Scott Eisenhauer said Tuesday. “The understanding and knowledge he had of both police and fire operations, the budget process, his ability to analyze and evaluate procedures and policies, and most importantly, his willingness and dedication to building relationships and partnerships in the community, allowing him to communicate and work with residents to solve problems, all made him an incredibly valuable director and leader of this city.”
Thomason, who died last week at age 78, is being remembered for his service to his community and country.
Beyond the 13 years he spent as Danville’s public safety director, Eisenhauer said, “he was one of the most inspirational mentors and greatest friend I ever had, and I enjoyed every day working with him, learning from him, watching him guide others and conversing with him about his love for his family, his job and his community. He will be greatly, greatly missed and all of our lives are a whole lot better because he was in it.”
Danville police Chief Chris Yates, who was a commander of the patrol division when Mr. Thomason retired, said the former director was “committed and dedicated to the city of Danville and Danville police.”
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