Chet Thomas Recognized for 20 Years of Service to Smith County

Laura L. Torres, Treasurer

Quality Assurance, Cameron County

Laura L. Torres began her career with the Cameron County Juvenile Justice Department in 2002 as a Community Service Restitution Caseworker. After graduating from the University of Texas at Brownsville, with a Bachelors Degree in Correctional Administration, she was promoted to the position of Weed & Seed Probation Officer for the southern area of Brownsville. In 2005, Laura transferred to the northern Cameron County as a Field Services Probation Officer. In 2006, Laura was prepared to take on a new challenge, and accepted the position of Case Manager at the Amador R. Rodriguez Juvenile Boot Camp and Educational Center. Shortly thereafter, Laura was promoted as the Training Coordinator for the Cameron County Juvenile Justice Department. She was responsible for Juvenile Probation and Detention Officer training, certification and recertification. In June of 2010, she was promoted to Operations Manager of the Darrell B. Hester Juvenile Detention Center and then as the Captain of the Amador R. Rodriguez Juvenile Boot Camp and Educational Center. She has also served in an administrative role over probation and as the Facility Administrator of the L.I.F.E. (Ladies Inspired For Excellence) Residential Treatment Center and B.R.A.V.E (Building Responsible Adults with Values and Education) Residential Treatment Center. She currently serves as the Quality Assurance and Control Administrator. She is married to Joe Torres, they are the proud parents of Joey, Joshua and Joseph.

Chet Thomas, President

Deputy Director, Smith County

Chet Thomas began his career in law enforcement in 1984 where he worked as a County Jailer, Dispatcher, then Deputy Sheriff. Chet joined the University of Texas at Tyler Police Department in 1989 and received his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 1993. He then went to work for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Office of the Inspector General as an Investigator until 2003 investigating internal corruption, civil rights violations and drug trafficking in the Texas Prison System. In addition, Chet was a training officer for the OIG and guest speaker for many civic groups. In 2003 he began teaching concurrent enrollment courses through Tyler Junior College and joined the Smith County District Attorney’s Office. In 2005, Chet began his career in Juvenile Justice with Smith County Juvenile Services as the JJAEP Administrator then became the Facility Administrator/Deputy Director. Chet is a recent graduate and alumni of Leadership Tyler which connects leaders together to serve in various ways to benefit the community. He is currently the Deputy Director of Detention of the Smith County Pre-Adjudication facility. He is married with three daughters and teaches an adult Christian education class at his church.

Smith County Juvenile Services Deputy Director Chet Thomas was recognized for 20 years of service to Smith County.

Thomas is a retired law enforcement officer and started volunteering as an Explorer Scout at age 15 for the Morris County Sheriff’s Department, where he went to the reserve academy at the age of 18.

After high school, Thomas started working full-time as a jailer and dispatcher while attending the East Texas Police Academy. He was promoted to deputy and started attending junior college.

Thomas said he believes he may have been the youngest peace officer in the State of Texas at the time.

“Everyone kept giving me a good-natured hard time for being so young, that at the time I could carry a firearm, but I couldn’t legally purchase the ammo for it,” he said.

Thomas worked at the UT Tyler Police Department while attending school there.

After he graduated from UT Tyler with a criminal justice degree, he worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as an investigator for the Office of the Inspector General for many years and ended his law enforcement career at the Smith County District Attorney’s Office. He also taught for Tyler ISD while also teaching criminal justice classes at Tyler Junior College.

He accepted an administrative position with Smith County Juvenile Services Department in 2005.

Thomas has served on numerous boards and committees and is a graduate of Leadership Tyler. He currently serves as president of the Texas Juvenile Detention Association, is board member of the Juvenile Justice Association of Texas, and serves on boards for UT Tyler and TJC, as well as other organizations.

“He has a storied career and has done a marvelous job for us at Smith County Juvenile Services,” Worley said. “Chet, we recognize you today.”

Thomas said his 20 years at Juvenile Services have gone by quickly and he is looking forward to another few years there.

Thank you for your many years of service to Smith County!

Laura L. Torres, Treasurer

Quality Assurance, Cameron County

Chet Thomas, President

Deputy Director, Smith County

Chet Thomas Recognized for 20 Years of Service to Smith County

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