The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
POLICE SERGEANT REMEMBERED
30-year veteran lost battle with brain cancer
The Lorain community remembered one of their own on Nov. 9
With family, friends and fellow police personnel from area departments in attendance, Detective Sgt. Tom Nimon of the Lorain Police Department was remembered for his 30 years of service to the community, a friend and family man and as someone who was always willing to lend a hand to those in need.
A funeral service at the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel in Lorain honored his legacy.
Nimon, 53, died Nov. 4 following a July 31 cancer diagnosis.
Nimon’s brother-in-law Frank DeAngelis remembered him as someone who loved his job and was there was when you needed him.
“He was extremely loyal to his colleagues and over the years he crafted the persona as the no-nonsense cop and person,” DeAngelis said. “If you were on the wrong side of him he could be that person… But he was so much more than that. He was self-assured, he knew his right from wrong, not afraid of work, he enjoyed a good time; a good son, brother and friend and family man.”
A lover of the outdoors and the freedom he felt from riding his motorcycle open road, DeAngelis joked he quite possibly may have owned every piece of apparel Harley Davidson ever made.
Lorain Police Chief Cel Rivera honored Nimon as a great police officer and an even better friend and family man.
“I don’t know at what point or why he chose to become a cop, but he was one of the great ones,” Rivera said. He wore that badge with pride, courage, with honor and integrity always. There’s something very special and courageous when you raise your hand and take that oath.
When you put on that uniform and badge and place yourself in harm’s way every day for complete strangers and say I’ll protect you even if that means I’ll lose my life. Tom didn’t die in the line of duty. But he put himself on the line each and
every day for 30 years. He was a hero in every sense of the word.”
As commander of the Lorain Police Narcotics Unit, Rivera noted Nimon did one of the toughest jobs in law enforcement and helped make Lorain a much safer place in getting a lot of guns and drugs off the streets.
“He participated and led some of the biggest cases in Lorain County history. But he seldom wanted to be the center of attention, always giving the credit to his crew,” Rivera added. “He hated being in front of those cameras. He was a natural leader, he took care of his men who became like brothers and he kept them safe.”
The service was officiated by Lorain Police Department Chaplain Dan Divis.
The service included a ceremonial 21-gun salute and the playing of taps.
Nimon began his career with the Grafton Police Department in 1988 and then served as a deputy with the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office. He had been with the Lorain Police Department since 1993 and was currently a detective sergeant and commander of the Lorain
Police Narcotics Unit.
An Amherst resident, the Amherst Police Department remembered Nimon in a statement on Nov. 9.
“Tom (Nimon) has always been there to help the men and women of the Amherst Police Department, while creating friendships along the way,” the statement said.
“Having known Tom for many years, I know that his work ethic, professionalism and integrity has reached far beyond the City of Lorain. I consider Tom to be in that elite 10 percent of police officers and human beings that other people looked up to, aspired to be like, and just liked being around, which truly speaks to Tom’s character.
Our hearts go out to Tom’s family and co-workers during this difficult time.”
The service included a ceremonial 21gun salute and the playing of taps.