Three honored for service with TJJD Office of Inspector General

Left: Lt. Johnny Thomas receives his certificate. Right:  SIO Alex De La Garza receives his certificate.

AUSTIN, Texas – The TJJD Office of the Inspector General (OIG) said farewell to three of its employees in December, sending them off with a ceremony in the Lone Star Conference Room at Central Office. The departing employees, two of whom are retiring from decades-long state service, received framed flags and certificates commemorating their careers.

Lt. Johnny Thomas retired after 23 years of state service split between TJJD and Texas Youth Commission (10-plus years) and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice .

OIG Sgt. Tom Hamilton presented Thomas with a custom-made rifle that Hamilton had ordered just for his friend and fellow officer. Hamilton was uniquely positioned to procure this gift, a 35 Whelen on Mauser action rifle, for gun collector Thomas because Hamilton’s father is a gunsmith. He presented the rifle as a gift from both dad and son.

SIO (Security Intelligence Officer) Alex De La Garza also received a certificate and congratulations on his retirement after 27 years of state service, which encompassed 24 years at the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) and the last three years at TJJD.

Sgt. Steven Reaves, who was not able to attend, also was honored at the ceremony. Reaves leaves TJJD after nearly 10 years of state service.

Thomas, whose career in law enforcement began in 1973 in West Texas where he served various police agencies, expects to spend his retirement hunting, fishing, riding his Harley Davidson and continuing to build his gun collection.

De La Garza says he’ll enjoy life and consider a new state job if the right one comes along.