HEIDELBERG — Residents in this Jasper County town are mourning the death of one of its law enforcement officers.

Thirty-two-year-old Cedric Thomas is being remembered as “a confidant and brother.”

Thomas, who was the Assistant Chief of Police of the Heidelberg Police Department, died Saturday, June 6, after being transported by ambulance from his residence in Jones County to the hospital.

Heidelberg Mayor Juan Barnett said Thomas’ death “is just shocking.”

Thomas had been an employee of the seven-member Heidelberg Police Department for 11 years.

“He had just finished his shift and gone home,” the mayor said. “Then, I was notified about 2 a.m. Saturday morning. “

Barnett, who has been mayor of the town for eight years, said Thomas was more than a police officer and the assistant police chief.

“I knew Cedric well. He was just ready to help everybody and assist them in whatever way possible,” the mayor said. “Cedric took his job seriously.

“He never met a stranger,” Barnett added. “He enjoyed working with people.”

More than the job, Barnett said, Thomas was a friend.

“If there was anything I needed to talk about, he was always that person who I could talk to and he would offer me some words of confidence.

“He was a good friend,” Barnett added. “He was a confidant and a brother. That’s just how much we cared about each other. ... I just miss him a lot.”

Jones County Coroner Nancy Barnett said Thomas was pronounced dead at South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel on Saturday.

The coroner said the cause of the death remains unknown, however, an autopsy has been performed.

“I am waiting on the autopsy report now,” Barnett said Tuesday evening. “No foul play is believed to have been involved.”