Tommy Thomas's Republican Rap Sheet

Tommy Thomas Rap Sheet
Republican Sheriff

Another GOP Scandal
Racist Emails Exposed in Sheriff’s Office
A report by local Houston TV Reporter Wayne Dolcefino details a total breakdown in management, discipline and basic civility within the office of Harris County Republican Sheriff Tommy Thomas.

The report exposes a cache of hateful emails ridiculing and maligning people based on their race. The racist email messages promote demeaning racial stereotypes. They were not only tolerated, but encouraged by repeated “forwarding.”

The same mismanagement and scandal that has rocked the Republican DA's Office and other Republican held county offices has clearly taken hold within the Harris County Sheriff's Department justifying widespread calls for change and new County leadership.

See the ABC 13 reports here

Follow up reports HERE and HERE

Count 1: The Sheriff’s Department is under investigation by the Harris County District Attorney’s office for improper surveillance of the Ibarra brothers, who had filed a civil rights law suit against the department. The revelation that Sheriff’s deputies were spying on the Ibarras, even though they were not suspected of any crime, has led to yet another suit against the office. (Houston Chronicle, May 29, 2008)

Count 2: It was the Sheriff’s refusal to investigate claims that his deputies wrongfully arrested the Ibarra brothers that cost Harris County a $1.7 million civil suit settlement. (Houston Chronicle, March 19, 2008)

Count 3: Shortly after the Rosenthal email scandal broke, the Sheriff’s office deleted thousands of Department emails. (ABC News 13, February 1, 2008))

Count 4:The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Harris County jails, which are managed by Thomas. Thomas's jails have been criticized for overcrowding, poor ventilation and sanitation, and questionable access to medical treatment and prescription drugs. (Houston Chronicle, February 22, 2008 and Houston Chronicle, March 8, 2008)

Count 5: Thomas's million dollar second home was designed, at a cost he won't disclose, by the architect who designed the new Harris County jail. This same architect also gave Thomas a large contribution just 6 days after the contract for the $33 million jail was approved. (ABC 13 News)

Known Associates:
Ed Emmett
Jerry Eversole
Chuck Rosenthal

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