Thomas Joy

Thomas Joy was born and raised in southern India in the state of Kerala. He immigrated to the United States in NY in 1996 at the age of 17. He completed High School in Orangeburg, NY and enlisted in the US Army in 1997. He has completed 28 years of service in the US Army on both Active Duty and in the Reserves. During his service he was assigned for combat duty in Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom during which he earned a Combat Action Badge. He was stationed for four years in Europe and on other varied assignments throughout the United States.

Thomas earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY in 2007 and completed the Westchester County Police Academy. He served as a Police Officer in the City of Mount Vernon Police Department, NY until 2010. He later attended the Suffolk County Police Academy and initially served as a Police Officer with the Suffolk County Police Department, 1st Precinct, Babylon, NY. Thomas currently serves in the Community Relations Bureau as a Recruitment Officer, since 2018.

He is the founding member of the Suffolk County Police Asian Jade Society in 2014.

The Society is a police fraternal nonprofit (501c3) that serves as a bridge between the department and the Asian American members of the community, encourages Asian Americans to consider a career in law enforcement and the armed forces of the United States and celebrates Asian languages, culture, heritage and cuisine.

Thomas was the first President of American Malayalee Law Enforcement United (AMLEU) in 2020. The organization is a national law enforcement charity organization with over 175 members from over 40 agencies around the country. The organization focuses on community outreach, scholarships for college students and other philanthropic efforts.

Thomas was appointed by the Suffolk County Executive to serve as a board member in the Suffolk County Asian American Advisory Board in 2021. The Board advises the County Executive on legislation, business development and cultural understanding as it pertains to the Asian American community. The newly elected Suffolk County Executive, Ed Romaine, appointed Thomas to be part of his Transition Team to assist and advise the County Executive in appointments to various positions within County government and other key tasks.

Thomas has served in the U.S. Service Academy Selection Committee of the 3rd Congressional District, New York since 2020. In this role, he screens, processes and mentors candidates who express an interest in attending one of the five U.S. military service academies.

Thomas continues to serve the community through his career in law enforcement, serves the nation as a member of the US Army and continues his philanthropic efforts through the societies he founded.