Tom, as we all know, was truly one of a kind. When I met my husband Tyson (many years ago), I obviously had to "take on and accept" his friends. I truly had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had always heard stories about the "3T's and a B". I took it as a special bond between boys. The 3 T's being: Tom, Ty and Tim, and the B as Brian. Anything that you thought was possible or impossible they could prove you right and wrong. They were wild and crazy beyond anything I ever heard of. Between goats, flags, fireworks, the many cars they went through, bow and arrows in the pool, and I could go on and on; I was amazed that no one had a record. (Stories, names and dates have been changed to protect the innocent until proven guilty) (hehehe).

As we got older the antics calmed down and I begun to see the much softer side of everyone. Ty and I had broken up for about a year. When I finally came to my senses and knew I would never find anyone as great, I called him up to see if he wanted to go out. When I called, Ty was with the "infamous" Tom. He said that they were up at a restaurant, but I could join them. A few weeks later I found out the conversation that transpired between the two of them. Everyone told Ty I wasn't worth it, I had already broke his heart and so on. Tom, on the other hand, looked at Ty and said-"If you love her, follow your heart". Words of the wise, is what I say. After finally finding out about this, I thanked Tom for what he said. I'm just glad that I live my life as boisterous as I do, or I may not have ever gotten the chance to do so.

When Ty was with Siemens he got a job right out of college that had him traveling all over the US. He was gone all but 3 days a month. Tom had just joined the department. I was living in an apartment in not the so nice part of town, working nights. I had a roommate, but he was never around. Tom, however, on his own accord would try to stop by as often as he could just to be sure I was ok (and safe). Knowing I had no social life, between working 2 jobs and Ty out all the time, we occasionally met for lunch or dinner. There was even a time that Tom came and picked my girlfriend and I, because we had been drinking a little too much. My step father had passed away and she had just broken up with her flavor of the week. So, we called Tom to take us to a "store". For those of you who know me, you know the story.  What this all comes down to, is that Tom was and is a great person. Whether to you that meant he was a husband, son, father, nephew, brother or friend- he was TOM to us all! And that will never be changed. Tom meant so much to so many people, all in different ways. However, we are all intertwined in life because we have one common ground, and that is that we all loved and cared for Tom. No matter what is said and done-think of how he would want it to go, or how he would have handled it.  Like I said -Words of the wise. 

Patti Peace

P.S. Tom I know that you have departed this earth, but you will never be far from our hearts and minds. I hope that you see that everything going on is because of who you are. I know that there were things in life that were truly difficult in your eyes, but now hopefully you have found peace. I hope one day that we can all find peace as well with what had transpired. I see the girls a lot (Jess, Katie, Ash and Hannah), and I really try to help the best I can. They are all having a hard time and they miss you a lot. Ty truly misses you and so does Bran. Nikki is too young to really remember, but every time Bran sees a cop car he still thinks it's you. With all our Love -We miss you!!!!

Tommy and another explorer came into the police station one day and I thought it odd that he didn't come by my office as he usually did.  Instead, he was going into the Chief's office.  This made me a little nervous. since I knew Tommy's propensity for practical jokes. After finishing paperwork, I went out to my patrol car to go to lunch.  It was a hot summer day and after starting the car I reached over and turned the air conditioning up on high.  It immediately began snowing in my car.  As I sat there I realized that I had once again been the victim of a practical joke.  Tommy and his partner in crime had gone from office to office emptying the secretary's three holed punches and depositing the tiny circles into the air conditioning vents in my car.  The Chief of Police had given him the spare keys to my car. I knew it was Tommy because as I sat there, his face appeared in one of the windows that faced out into the parking lot, smiling from ear to ear that he had once again put one over on me.  It took me a week to finally get all of the paper vacuumed out.