DANVILLE, Ark – The Arkansas River Valley is mourning the loss of a young pioneer in women’s law enforcement who died weeks after becoming a mother.
Lyonette Hale-Thomas, an agent with the 15th Judicial District Drug Task Force, will be laid to rest on Monday, August 12. She died on Wednesday, August 7, from a sudden blood clot.
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Thomas was the first female president of the Arkansas Narcotics Officers Association. She has represented the state across the country, including several times in D.C.
The Waldron native graduated from Waldron High School in 2003. She knew her calling by going straight into the local justice system while studying criminal justice at Arkansas Tech University. Her first boss was the district attorney for the 15th Judicial District, Tom Tatum Jr.
“She was young and energetic at the time,” Tatum said. She would have done everything we are trying to do for her. She would have made sure everything was perfect.”
Thomas became a probation officer before Commander Joe Patterson hired her into the Arkansas 15th Judicial District Task Force.
It was 13 years ago and what quickly impressed Thomas was his passion. Passion for collecting, the Pigs, and for doing their job of getting drugs off the streets the right way.
“She was, you could say, an inspiration to all of us,” Patterson said. “She knew every DTF you could say in Arkansas. There are 19 of us and she knew them all.”
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Officer Thomas won the Paudert Evans Officer of the Year Award in 2016. Additionally, her colleagues across the state chose her as the first female president of the Arkansas Narcotics Officers Association.
“Without a doubt, being a mother was her favorite role,” Tatum said.
Thomas’ seven-week-old daughter shares his middle name, Sue. Her husband, an Arkansas game and fish director, is caring for their daughter. Thomas was on maternity leave when she passed away.
“That baby meant everything to her. She talked about that baby and loved him like you couldn’t believe,” Patterson said.
Agent Thomas would have turned 39 at the end of August. She was scheduled to return to work in September.
“It’s sad. Tragic. But her family loved her and thought a lot about her. We all loved her. Everything she wanted was right in front of her,” Patterson said.
Several agencies honored Lyonette Hale-Thomas’ legacy during processions from Little Rock to Dardanelle on Thursday and from Dardanelle to Waldron on Friday.
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