The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

The morning of Thursday, Feb. 16, a Ford Police Interceptor remained still upon the sidewalk before the Phillips County Courthouse in Holyoke, facing local traffic as cars and pedestrians traveled north and south along Interocean Avenue. By that afternoon, people began to leave flowers on the vehicle's hood and later a cross. Behind the car's windshield, a banner depicted a man before an American flag, someone whom many remembered for his obscure historical trivia, humorous nicknames or - if they happened to be speeding - an occasional ticket.

"In memory of Sheriff Thomas Elliott," the banner stated. "End of Watch: February 16, 2023."

Elliott, who served as Phillips County sheriff since November 2017, died that day at 58, following a more than two-year battle with cancer.

By Monday morning, Feb. 20, a crowd overflowed from the pews of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and into its reception hall, where a television monitor showed Elliott's funeral mass at the building's center. Music from police bagpipes played to open the funeral, with support from law enforcement both in and out-of-county. Interment followed at Holyoke Cemetery.

"Oh, he was a wonderful sheriff," said Phillips County Undersheriff Michael Beard, whom Elliott appointed in May 2020. "My friend, my mentor, my boss. He was great to work for."

Garold Roberts, chair for the Phillips County commissioners, said he often heard stories from other counties regarding controversies between their sheriffs and commissioners. But with Elliott, he noted, "We never had that." Elliott proved "by the book," he said, and most of their discussions revolved around budgeting.

"We found Thom easy to work with and really appreciated that," Garold said. "We felt good going to other counties and saying, 'We get along well with our sheriff."

Still, he continued, "tongue in cheek," Elliott wanted them to buy him a Dodge Charger of the Hellcat variety, noting the former sheriff liked to move quickly from Point A to Point B. "Very fast," said Commissioner Terry Hofmeister as all three laughed. "We said, 'no,'" Commissioner Tom Timm added.

Prior to their time in Phillips County, both Hofmeister and Elliott knew each other in Cheyenne County, Colorado, where - for a decade before his move to Holyoke in April 2002 - Elliott worked as a deputy and Hofmeister for Marathon Petroleum Company. When moving rigs, Hofmeister said, communication with local law enforcement proved necessary; even then, he said, Elliott excelled at back-and-forth communication.

(Andrew Turck | The Holyoke Enterprise)

A FORD Police Interceptor belonging to Thomas Elliott, the late Phillips County sheriff, sits outside the County Courthouse the afternoon of Tuesday, Feb. 21. People began to decorate the vehicle soon after it was parked.

While Elliott did not always use the commissioners' suggestions, Garold said, he sought them out and - if he thought they might work - would implement them.

"Ultimately, he wanted to do the best job he could," Garold said, "and he strived hard to do that."

With a nearly decade-long background in the Haxtun Police Department, Beard soon picked up the differences between work for the police and work for the Phillips County Sheriff's Office under Elliott. New skills to learn included court security, booking and bonding, in addition to prisoner transport.

Elliott's focus, Beard said, proved to be community policing, something he intends to emphasize as the county considers how to fill the sheriff position. Regarding Elliott's mission and goals, Beard continued, he "wouldn't change a thing."

"I think he'll be remembered as a fair sheriff with everybody," he said. "He was always open to talk to anybody and that's how you need to be."