Tom Colbert

Thomas "Tom" Colbert (December 23, 1927 - June 2, 2021) was a police officer who served as chief of police during his service at the Brooklyn Police Department of almost four decades.

Early Life
Tom was born two days before Christmas of 1927. His mother, Andree Colbert, was a US Army soldier. His father, Bill Colbert, was a real estate agent. He had a twin brother, Tony Colbert. He also had a younger brother, Cole, born in 1936, who would become a salesman. Colbert spent time with his friends and family as much as he could.

US Army Service
Colbert graduated high school in 1945, roughly a couple months before the end of the Second World War. His mother's service in the US Army inspired him to serve his country with her (at least for a little while). He served in five positions in the course of a decade:

- Private Second Class (1946)

- Private First Class (1948)

- Specialist (1950)

- Sergeant (1952)

- Staff Sergeant (1954)

When he learned of the Vietnam War in 1955, Colbert had a bad feeling that it wasn't something he wanted to be a part of. The Army understood his fear(s) and honorably discharged him.

Police Service
Colbert joined the Brooklyn Police Department in 1955. Many officers gave him a big welcoming party due to his honorable service in the military. In his thirty-nine year service, he recieved six promotions:

- Trooper (1958)

- Corporal (1961)

- Sergeant (1964)

- Inspector (1967)

- Lieutenant (1970)

- Chief of Police (1973)

Colbert served as Chief from 1973 until his retirement in 1994.

Personal Life
Colbert married his childhood (and high school) sweetheart, Bobbie Sue Valazquez, in 1945. Their first child of six, Samantha, was born in 1947. Bobbie Sue was a firefighter.

Death
On June 2, 2021, Colbert died peacefully in his sleep at the ripe old age of 93 years. He is survived by his wife, his brother Cole, his five children (the sixth, Precious, had died in a fatal boating accident in 2016), eight grandchildren and his nieces and nephews.