Lee is the IU Police Department’s captain of operations. Before his position at IU, Lee earned a bachelor’s degree in science management from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Lee’s duties include uniform operations for all three shifts as well as working on investigations.
When Lee is off the clock, he enjoys watching Michael Waltrip race. The number Waltrip races under, 55, is also Lee’s badge number.
Lee’s connection with IU stems deeper than his 19 years of service. Both of Lee’s daughters graduated from IU, one with a degree in education and all-needs learning, Lee said.
“I was kind of a late bloomer to law enforcement,” Lee said. “I was 46 before I entered the law enforcement academy in Plainfield, Indiana. I think people who are drawn to law enforcement are drawn because they are compelled to assist people.”
Prior to starting his career as a law enforcement officer, Lee was a command sergeant major for the United States Army.
There are many aspects of the police force Lee said he enjoys.
“You get to wear a cool uniform and drive fast — no, just kidding,” Lee said.
Lee is an instructor at both the IU Police Academy and the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield.
“I think you certainly improve your ability to perform by putting yourself in a position that you have to present,” Lee said. “You actually find yourself becoming a little more cognizant of issues surrounding ?subject matter.”
Articulating in writing the specifics of a case is a high point in Lee’s job, ?he said.
“It’s not for someone who cannot articulate themselves in writing and speech,” Lee said. “It’s a ?holistic view of the profession. I enjoy the camaraderie of police officers of my agency and other agencies.”
Lee said he enjoys interacting with the public and finding himself at the forefront of an emergency.
“Sometimes dealing with unpleasant people who just refuse to accept responsibility for their own actions, and everything they’ve done is somebody else’s fault — you know, sometimes that’s a little frustrating,” he said. “Sometimes they do not have the capacity to understand or accept responsibility to say, ‘Hey, I messed up.’ That’s probably the worst, just dealing with folks who refuse to do that.”
Laury Flint is IU’s Chief of Police and has worked with Lee on numerous occasions. Lee’s ability to make everyone laugh in intense situations is part of what makes him an asset to IU’s police force, Flint said.
“As is understandable, there are many times when a situation can be very tense,” Flint said. “Tom always comes up with something to make everyone laugh.”
Though IUPD sees people almost exclusively at their worst, laughter is a stress reliever, Flint said. She said IUPD is there to make sure the situation gets better for everyone involved.
“We really are one of the helping professions,” Lee said. “We help people when they don’t want to be help(ed), and we’re the ones folks call when nobody else can deal with the situation.”
Lee’s and IUPD’s main goal is to keep campus and students safe, Flint said.
“Our priority is to make sure that people are safe and secure in their homes, dorms and student housing,” Lee said. “We’re all sworn and committed to do that. If there’s an enforcement action that’s required, we get no pleasure from it. If you get a choice to do one thing, making sure someone is safe or getting them the help they need is the priority.”
