After 39 years on the force, Lt. Thompson to retire from Hermosa Beach Police Department
Lt. Tom Thompson at his desk. Photo Hermosa Beach has changed a lot in 40 years. The railroad tracks are gone. Either/Or Bookstore is too. You can’t even drive all the way down Pier Avenue. But at least one thing hasn’t changed: When residents fall victim to crime, it tends to be easily preventable. Lt. Tommy Thompson, a 39-year veteran of the Hermosa Beach Police Department, said such “crimes of opportunity” were the primary concern when he began. And as he prepares for his last day with the department on June 2, residents still haven’t quite gotten the message. “Crime is still the same,” Thompson said with a laugh in a recent interview. “Unlocked vehicles, unlocked garages, people leaving their windows open — people don’t pay attention until they are a victim.” It’s certainly not for lack of trying. Thompson’s long tenure in the department has been defined by outreach and engagement. The connections he developed in the process have made him a major asset to the department. “I am so conflicted about him leaving. On one hand, he’s been here forever and deserves a rest,” said Chief Sharon Papa. “But he’s my in-house historian. He knows the backstory on everything that comes up.”…
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