Retired Deputy Police Chief Reggie Thomas Running for Lafayette City Marshal

It was just a couple of days ago that Reggie Thomas announced his decision to retire as Deputy Police Chief of the Lafayette Police Department after nearly 30 years on the force.

Turns out he is ready to take on a new challenge - Lafayette City Marshal.

According to the Daily Advertiser, Thomas is jumping into the race with candidates Duson Police Chief Kip Judice and suspended Lafayette City Marshal Brian Pope, who has been fighting criminal charges for the last four years following his election in December of 2014.

As KPEL's Bernadette Lee points out, Thomas served as Interim Lafayette Police Chief following Jim Craft's resignation and was integral in working to reorganize the department in the eight months between Craft's resignation and former LPD Chief Toby Aguillard's acceptance of the job.

As the Daily Advertiser points out, Thomas has worked some of Lafayette's highest profile crimes and became the highest ranking black officer in the LPD. And, he's been praised for his ability to work with people throughout the community, who he hopes to serve in this new capacity.

“Lafayette is just a city that I love," Thomas tells the Daily Advertiser. "What that brings is a passion for being a leader. I think the citizens want me to be a leader for this city.”