Thomas J. Hendricks

I just today found out that Tom had passed. He was my friend and mentor. He represented everything good about law enforcement. I always tried to emulate him.
Dave King
Police Chief, retired
5-20-25

One of the best professionals whom I ever worked with. Sympathies to his family.

My condolences to the family. I had the privilege of serving under Tom on the East Lansing Police Department. He was a friend and mentor and had an easy-going leadership style. He was the cop and the man that I aspired to be.

My condolences to Cheif Hendricks family. When I was hired as a patrol officer in 1983 Captain Hendricks was the first person I met. He expected your best and in turn, he gave his to the East Lansing. I have much respect for him and his service to ELPD and the citizens of the communities he served.

The world is now a bit dimmer. Tom was one of the finest people I've had the pleasure of knowing. I was a 16 year old volunteer at the DEC, a drug crisis center in East Lansing that had a suicide hotline. In the course of taking calls, I met and got to know then Sgt. Hendricks. It was a challenging time for each of us for different reasons. Perhaps as unlikely as it was, we became friends. He rose to Lt. and then Chief. I graduated, went to college, and moved to Atlanta. Every visit back we visited, his fresh baked chocolate cookies and brownies were the best. In so many ways he was like a father to me at a critical time in my life. My heart soared with joy when he would tell the restaurant hostess that he was meeting his daughter. Now 45 years later, I'm sad but very grateful that he was a part of my life and I know that he contributed to who I am today. I can only hope to be half as fine a person as Tom was every single day.

Tom,
You were a great mentor and supporter of myself and the police. We will miss you and it is so telling that you would give monies to the Hundred Club.

God bless you
Patti Nowak

A true gentleman I always looked up to. As a child growing up next door, Mr. Hendricks, was always what I thought a true police officer should be. My sincere condolences to the family. Jim Cole (Howell, MI)

Thank you Tom for all those years of serving the citizens of East Lansing. Prayers to you and your family.

A really good Man And Co-worker. Always could depend on his input and assistance.

Bob Owen, EL Planning & Zoning Dept., !972-2007

One of the finest public servants I ever knew and a mentor as well. We worked together when both assigned to the police academy at LCC by our departments. A good man who will be missed .

I am so sorry for your loss. Tom was a very generous, funny man. We became very good friends with Tom and Diane when they started boarding "Abbey" with me. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family at this difficult time...God Bless....

God has called home one of his servants, sent to serve all of us who knew and met him. Tom was a friend for over 50 years, my mentor at E.L.P.D. and someone all will greatly miss. Be well my friend, till we meet again.
Arleen and I send our deepest personal condolences to the entire Hendricks family. May God's blessing's be upon all of you in this your time of deep sorrow and remembrance of Tom.
GO GREEN - GO WHITE

We are so saddened to hear of your dad's passing. He was such a good person, friend and neighbor. Our love and lots of hugs go out to you and your families.

Tom was a very nice man, along with his second wife, Diane. I used to cook meals for them on special occasions when their family visited. He sure loved my ethnic prepared dishes and especially my bean soup!Even after we moved , we would meet them both in Harrison to deliver. He loved their dog "abbey", which they were no longer able to care for and made sure that beautiful dog got a good home and a lovely place to live out her young life. He loved "all his children", and was a big Michigan State fan(of course!) Rest in peace.