Meet Thomas

Thomas Gibbs was born in March of 1976 in Davenport, Iowa.  He has family ties to Durant and Blue Grass areas.  Thomas grew up in Coralville/Iowa City and graduated from Iowa City West High School in 1994.  After high school he entered service with the United States Air Force as a Law Enforcement Patrolman.  He was further selected and trained as a Military Working Dog Handler.  Thomas was first stationed at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom where he worked both narcotics and explosive patrol dogs.  Thomas was then selected to work an explosive detector dog for his last duty station at Andrews AFB (now Joint Base Andrews) in support of the Air Force One Mission and Support Complex.  After over 5 years of military service Thomas left the Air Force in pursuit of civilian Law Enforcement opportunities. 

Upon leaving the Air Force he briefly worked private security at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.  Thomas then worked for the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington D.C. for approximately two and a half years. 

Thomas returned to Iowa in 2004 where he began his career with the Scott County Sheriff's Office.  He was hired by then Sheriff Dennis Conard.  In 2006 Thomas was selected to start the Sheriff's Office first ever canine unit.  Together with Police Service Dog Ares they served the community and surrounding areas forging a path for future canines.  In 2012 Thomas was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and assigned to Sheriff's Administration.  Assisting the Sheriff and Chief Deputy with administration of the Sheriff's Office.  Although the Sheriff's Office already posted Inmate information, he assisted in creating a warrant page, along with social media accounts.  In 2014 with the retirement of then Chief Deputy Mike Brown, he was approached by Sheriff Conard and asked to fill the role as his next Chief Deputy.  This was an opportunity which couldn't be passed up and was gratefully accepted.  Sheriff Conard is a good man and was an excellent mentor.  Thomas served Sheriff Conard learning all aspects of the Sheriff's Office.  Sheriff Conard retired at the end of his term and Thomas launched an unsuccessful bid to be his replacement.  Thomas returned to his former rank of Sergeant in 2017 serving in the patrol division.  Thomas was promoted in 2017 to the rank of Lieutenant where he currently serves as the dayshift watch commander.  Thomas has been an instructor in Firearms and Fair and Impartial Policing.  He has also furthered his training in emergency preparedness through Incident Command Structure of Complex Incidents which he is trained in Area/Unified Command and Emergency Operations Center operations.

Thomas is married to Heather Gibbs (Huffman) and together they reside in Bettendorf.  They have two wonderful daughters who attend the Pleasant Valley Community School District.  Thomas volunteers his time with Ascentra Credit Union and serves on their Board of Directors.