Laurens Deputies:  Fatal Fire Victim Was Former Police Officer

    Take a look at Tommy Douglas’s old home off Highway 221 in Laurens County:  all you see is charred remains, smoked out windows, and melted paint.  Deputies found the 50 year old dead inside the burned trailer Thursday morning, and they believe it was not an accident.  Friday, Newschannel 7 learned the investigation is now even more personal for law enforcement.  Douglas is not just any other victim:  he’s one of their own.

    Douglas worked as a police officer for more than a decade, before getting out several years ago.  “He was a dedicated police officer,” says Lt. Ralph Bobo.  Bobo worked alongside the former police officer in Simpsonville.  He describes Douglas as a fun loving guy, who was passionate about his job.  Douglas worked as a patrol officer in Simpsonville for 11 years, before moving on in 1996.  When Bobo and others heard news Thursday of the fatal fire involving Douglas, it was just like losing one of their own.  “I consider Tommy a police officer, but a friend as well.  So when you have a friend that’s hurt or injured or killed, you want to know why,” says Bobo.

    Laurens County deputies want to know “why” too.  Friday, they found the 50 year old’s Dodge Ram truck abandoned, but no sign of who might have killed him.  With Douglas’s history as an officer, those like Bobo wonder, whether he was targeted.  “When you arrest someone and take away their freedom, they get mad at you.  And of course you’re going to be a target of their wrath.”  Right now, investigators do not believe that’s the case.  While they look for a killer, former brothers like Bobo hope they find someone soon.  “Find him.  Find him fast.”