Officer Thomas Hull Deats III (Ret.)

Officer Thomas H. Deats (Ret.), passed away on March 19, 2017 at the age of 67 with his wife at his side. Tom was born on July 19, 1949 in Laredo, Texas, the son of Thomas H. Deats, Jr. and Pauline Wormser Deats. Tom married Jean Wenzel while living in San Antonio and they celebrated 42 years of marriage before his passing.

Tom retired from the Arlington Police Department after 25 years of committed service to his community. He also proudly served his country as a medic in the Army during the Vietnam War. Prior to moving to Arlington, Tom worked for the USDA as a Mounted Tick Inspector along the Texas-Mexico border. Tom joined the Arlington Police Department in 1986 and ultimately completed his goal of becoming a training officer, which he loved most of all. Family, fellow officers, and friends will miss Tom’s selfless personality, his heart of gold, as well as his compassion and determination to see people grow. Tom was a member of St. Maria Goretti church and also the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT). Tom will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and brothers & sisters at the department.

In addition to his wife, Jean, Tom leaves behind his children Christopher Berry, Shawn Deats and wife Yumie, and son Chanse Deats; grandchildren Mason and Roman Deats; brothers John Deats and wife Kathy and Stephen Deats and wife Jennie.

The family will receive friends for visitation from 6-8PM on Wednesday, March 29, with a rosary at 7PM at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church. Memorial Mass will be at the Church on Thursday at 11AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.