Franklin Springs Mayor Says Chief Thomas Played Key Role in Running of City

Few details are being released in the death of Franklin Springs Police Chief John Thomas.

Thomas passed away Monday and the investigation has been turned over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles tells WLHR News Thomas’ body was sent to the GBI Crime Lab for autopsy and no other information will be released until the autopsy is complete.

Thomas had been Police Chief in Franklin Springs for two years.  But according to Franklin Springs mayor Lee Moore, he wore many other hats for the City.

“Chief John Thomas played a tremendous role in the City of Franklin Springs. Just like many of our employees, he had to wear many other hats,” Moore said. “He ran our Police Department very well. Our officers and citizens greatly respected him. He was a man of great character and integrity. But he also helped out in other aspects of the City whether it was water leaks, sewer leaks, or flooding like we had last Thursday where he helped out. He never turned down any challenge that was brought before him. He was a team player and he will be greatly missed.”

Moore said the entire Franklin Springs community is taking Thomas’s death very hard.

On Tuesday, Royston Police lowered their flag to half-staff in memory of Chief Thomas.

Moore said once Thomas’s body is released from the GBI Crime Lab in Atlanta, there will be a police escort for his body from Atlanta to the funeral home in Franklin County.