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Aurora police mourn passing of 'great community leader' from COVID-19

Involved in several community programs, Rev. Milton Thomas was considered a friend of the Aurora Police Department.

AURORA, Colo. — Aurora's law enforcement community is mourning the loss of Rev. Milton Thomas, who died after a "long and tough fight" against COVID-19, according to the Aurora Police Association (APA).

"Pastor Thomas has been a friend since the 1990s. He has been an activist in our community in Aurora," said Debbie Stafford, who worked with Thomas on the Aurora Key Community Response team. 

The City of Aurora's website states it is a group of volunteers who work with the city during times of civil unrest.

"Pastor Thomas was just one of those men that he cared so much about people," Stafford said. 

Interim Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson called Thomas a great community leader and a friend of the Aurora Police Department (APD).

"I know the police department had a number of times said that they wanted to be more engaged in the community," Rev. Reid Hettich said. "They wanted to do community outreach, but sometimes they weren't quite sure how to do that."

Hettich also worked with Thomas on the Key Community Response Team. He is also a fellow pastor at the Mosaic Church of Aurora and Interfaith Alliance of Colorado. Hettich said Thomas partnered with the Aurora Police Association and organized Shop with a Cop to buy gifts for needy families for Christmas and Back to School.

"He was the kind of guy that he was everybody's friend," Hettich said. "Always happy, always cheerful, always a smile on his face. Something good to say about everybody."

Stafford said Thomas also organized mass Thanksgiving dinners and job fairs for the community.

"He was a man that could be trusted," Stafford said. "He was a man that you could feel safe with and I think many in our community felt like they could reach out to him. They could find hope. They could find help. They could find healing."

Now, Stafford and Hettich said prayers are turning to his wife who they say also has COVID-19.

"It makes the COVID-19 pandemic crisis so much more real to have it this close to our backyard," Stafford said. "Pastor Thomas will be missed and he is loved forever."

RELATED: At least 47 dead from COVID-19 at nursing homes across Colorado

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