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93-year-old cop still has it in him
Retired Oakland police officer fends off would-be robbers with 62-year-old gun
By Kitty McCarthy
CORRESPONDENT
OAKLAND — It doesn't matter if you are 93 and have a pair of bad knees. Once a cop, always a cop.
John P. Thomas Jr. retired from the Oakland Police Department almost 40 years ago, but that didn't stop him from taking action March 1 when two men made two separate attempts to break into his East Oakland house.
"I was sitting here in the front room around quarter after three, and I saw this van pull up," Thomas said Friday, recalling how his police instincts kicked in. "Something told this old retired policeman to go out and get the license number.And then I sat down again and started reading the sports page."
While he was reading, the doorbell began to ring repeatedly. Said Thomas, a widower who lives alone: "The next thing I know, these two guys are going into my back yard."
Thomas saw them go behind his house and then heard a sound at his window just five feet away.
"I heard it first and then saw them fooling around with the window," he said. "I knocked once, and they ran."
Despite the pair's quick retreat, Thomas' day was far from over. Both men eventually returned and began prying off the screen.
He got his service pistol from his bedroom, "the one that was issued
in 1943," Thomas said. "I got me a gun out of retirement — like me."
Thomas left his house through the back and began to walk toward the men, gun in hand.
"Somehow or other they smelled me," he said.
The men saw Thomas coming and ran away. Thomas called 9-1-1 to report what happened and provide a license plate number for the van.
"I wouldn't have shot them. I didn't have that intention," he said. "I can't move ... I have arthritis in the knees."
As of Friday, no one had been arrested in the case.
Those who know Thomas say his determination is notable. Retired Inspector Jack Richardson said he was "a wethead rookie" when he first met Thomas in 1945. Thomas joined the force in 1943 and already had a couple years of experience.
"I was impressed with him," Richardson said. "No. 1, he was one of the most low-key guys I ever ran into ... He was a good trainer. He was low key and tough as nails. He wasn't mean-tough, but he wouldn't back off anything ... He was lacking a reverse gear."
When Richardson heard of Thomas' recent heroics, he called up his old friend. Recalled Thomas: "(Jack) said, 'Boy, you're a hero.' I said, 'Hero my butt.'"
Thomas said his police career was varied. An officer for 23 years,
he was third in line to be a sergeant when he retired in 1966 because of his wife's ill health. In the course of his career, he had done everything from walking a beat to driving a patrol car and working with the vice squad.
"I did everything but sweep the floors," he said.
On March 1, Thomas followed the advice he had given others many times as an officer.
"When I used to go out and answer calls, I'd always tell people in a deal like this if you can, get the license number of the vehicle. That's what ran through my mind in this deal."
"How many 93-year-old men do you think there are in this town who would take that license number down?" Richardson said. "That's great. I think that's fantastic."
After his family heard about the incident, Thomas said his grandchildren and great-grandchildren asked him if he was going to "pull a Jose Canseco" and start giving out autographs.
"I don't know what to charge them," he said.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_2597276
Retired Oakland police officer fends off would-be robbers with 62-year-old gun
By Kitty McCarthy
CORRESPONDENT
OAKLAND — It doesn't matter if you are 93 and have a pair of bad knees. Once a cop, always a cop.
John P. Thomas Jr. retired from the Oakland Police Department almost 40 years ago, but that didn't stop him from taking action March 1 when two men made two separate attempts to break into his East Oakland house.
"I was sitting here in the front room around quarter after three, and I saw this van pull up," Thomas said Friday, recalling how his police instincts kicked in. "Something told this old retired policeman to go out and get the license number.And then I sat down again and started reading the sports page."
While he was reading, the doorbell began to ring repeatedly. Said Thomas, a widower who lives alone: "The next thing I know, these two guys are going into my back yard."
Thomas saw them go behind his house and then heard a sound at his window just five feet away.
"I heard it first and then saw them fooling around with the window," he said. "I knocked once, and they ran."
Despite the pair's quick retreat, Thomas' day was far from over. Both men eventually returned and began prying off the screen.
He got his service pistol from his bedroom, "the one that was issued
in 1943," Thomas said. "I got me a gun out of retirement — like me."
Thomas left his house through the back and began to walk toward the men, gun in hand.
"Somehow or other they smelled me," he said.
The men saw Thomas coming and ran away. Thomas called 9-1-1 to report what happened and provide a license plate number for the van.
"I wouldn't have shot them. I didn't have that intention," he said. "I can't move ... I have arthritis in the knees."
As of Friday, no one had been arrested in the case.
Those who know Thomas say his determination is notable. Retired Inspector Jack Richardson said he was "a wethead rookie" when he first met Thomas in 1945. Thomas joined the force in 1943 and already had a couple years of experience.
"I was impressed with him," Richardson said. "No. 1, he was one of the most low-key guys I ever ran into ... He was a good trainer. He was low key and tough as nails. He wasn't mean-tough, but he wouldn't back off anything ... He was lacking a reverse gear."
When Richardson heard of Thomas' recent heroics, he called up his old friend. Recalled Thomas: "(Jack) said, 'Boy, you're a hero.' I said, 'Hero my butt.'"
Thomas said his police career was varied. An officer for 23 years,
he was third in line to be a sergeant when he retired in 1966 because of his wife's ill health. In the course of his career, he had done everything from walking a beat to driving a patrol car and working with the vice squad.
"I did everything but sweep the floors," he said.
On March 1, Thomas followed the advice he had given others many times as an officer.
"When I used to go out and answer calls, I'd always tell people in a deal like this if you can, get the license number of the vehicle. That's what ran through my mind in this deal."
"How many 93-year-old men do you think there are in this town who would take that license number down?" Richardson said. "That's great. I think that's fantastic."
After his family heard about the incident, Thomas said his grandchildren and great-grandchildren asked him if he was going to "pull a Jose Canseco" and start giving out autographs.
"I don't know what to charge them," he said.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_2597276
