Dover Police Department Corporal Thomas Hannon died early Friday as the result of medical complications stemming from a leg injury he suffered in the line of duty in 2012.
Corporal Hannon died early in the morning on Friday, September 1st, 2017, while surrounded by his family at Christiana Hospital.
Corporal Hannon was 42 years old and served with the Dover Police Department since 2005.
(Police Corporal Thomas Hannon, end of watch September 1, 2017. Rest in peace Brother. Courtesy of Law Enforcement Today .com and YouTube)
Gov. John Carney has ordered both U.S. and state flags be flown at half-staff in his memory until further notice. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.
Cpl. Mark Hoffman, public information officer for the Dover Police Department, described Hannon as a big teddy bear with a heart of gold who stood taller than 6 feet.
He was a New York Giants fan and had a wife and three children.
“He would for sure be the life of the party,” Hoffman said. “He was a character, definitely larger-than-life personality and just a big human being.”
During his time with the Dover Police Department, Corporal Thomas Hannon served in the Patrol Unit, Quality of Life Unit, the TAC section of the Drugs, Vice, and Organized Crime Unit, and as a K9 officer in the Drugs, Vice, and Organized Crime Unit.
He began working with 2 yo German shepherd Mina in 2014, and the two focused their efforts on intercepting illegal narcotics and combating street-level drug dealers in Dover.
Corporal Thomas Hannon was also a highly decorated officer; receiving a 2006 Officer of the Quarter award, two distinguished unit awards, a DUI enforcement award, numerous perfect attendance awards, and two life saving awards.
Corporal Hannon earned the life saving awards in 2008 when he helped save a woman after she stopped breathing and in 2009 when he rescued a handicapped woman from a burning residence.
“Corporal Thomas Hannon was a big part of the Dover Police Department family,” shared Chief Marvin Mailey said in a prepared statement.
“His larger than life personality, sense of humor, and his unwavering commitment to the citizens of Dover will be greatly missed by all.”
“We lost an excellent police officer, friend, and brother today.”
“Corporal Hannon’s family lost an even better husband, father, son, and brother as well.”
“Our thoughts continue to be with them at this time, and we are committed to keeping Corporal Thomas Hannon’s memory alive and supporting the entire Hannon family during this tragic time.”
Editor’s note: Our condolences to the DPD. Our thoughts and prayers are with Corporal Hannon’s family. May you rest in peace Sir.
