Kindness, fairness and a heart of service to others are qualities for which Tom Munn, retired chief of Foster Township Police, will be remembered.

He died at home Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. He was 56.

Thursday afternoon, current Chief Mike Thomas posted this message to the department’s social media page: “The Foster Township Police are saddened with the loss of our past chief of police, Thomas C.  Munn. Tom served our agency for 33 years and retired last August of 2024. Since his retirement, he still served the Bradford area as a security officer at the Guidance Center. Your service does not go unrecognized. Please keep Tom’s family in your thoughts and prayers. Tom will be missed by his brothers and sisters in blue. RIP Badge #186.”

Comments from the public rolled in. One of the most common was saying how much they will miss such a great guy.

“Tom had a good heart,” Thomas told The Era on Friday. On social media, one person said he’d been “picked up” — arrested — by Munn, but still commented on his kindness — “great guy.”

“There were very few times I saw Tom upset,” Thomas said, “but I worked with him for 20 years. He and Kevin (Shaffer) were like my older brothers. Brothers have disagreements at times.”

Respect and camaraderie were always present.

“Tom made a lot of stuff happen here,” the chief said of the police department. “In the ’90s, he brought the computers here. He was the one who started how we give out the candy at Halloween. Before Walmart would donate the candy, he would pay for it out of his own pocket.”

That’s something that children remember — a positive interaction with police. And it was started out of a love for his community.

“Thirty-three years of his life he served this community,” Thomas said. “I learned everything from Tom.

“I would not be doing this job of chief without Tom Munn,” he said. “I didn’t know anything about organization or budgets. I just want to keep the wheels moving forward.”

There are so many things the current chief is going to miss about his friend. “He was a wealth of knowledge. I can remember other agencies having him check their search warrants to make sure they were complete.”

More than anything, Munn was a family man, Thomas said, very devoted to his wife, daughter and family, whom he often talked about, and shared his pride in their accomplishments.

“He was a wealth of knowledge and it’s a shame the community isn’t going to have him anymore,” Thomas said. “I’m thankful I can keep the wheels rolling for Tom, knowing that Tom’s looking behind me saying ‘Do it right, kid.'”

McKean County District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer shared comments about Munn as well.

“Chief Munn was one of those people who truly made the world a better place. He cared about his community. He was a friend to all of us and would give you the shirt off of his back,” she said.

The prosecutor shared a personal story of his kindness.

“He actually surprised me a few years ago when he refurbished a china cabinet I had been given from my father years ago that had suffered from years of water damage from being left in storage,” Shaffer said. “Tom’s work was absolutely beautiful and the detailed wood working was phenomenal. It was a treasured gift from my father and now will live on as a beautiful gift from Chief Munn. We all loved Tom and his passing is painful.”

Losing a fellow officer is rough, shared Bradford City Police Chief Mike Ward, remembering Munn with “deep sadness and profound respect,” calling him “a pillar of our community and a beloved figure in law enforcement.”

Ward spoke of Munn’s impact, which “extended far beyond his role as chief of police. For many, myself included, he was a mentor. As a young student of criminal justice at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, I had the privilege of interning under his leadership. Chief Munn saw potential in me and took me under his wing, offering guidance that shaped both my career and personal life. His commitment to excellence in law enforcement was unwavering, always striving to do what was right for the citizens of Foster Township and Bradford.”

He exemplified integrity and dedication and was a true friend, Ward said, “always ready with a kind word or advice. His love for his family was evident to all who knew him.”

Ward continued, “Chief Munn’s legacy is one of compassion, leadership and community service. His contributions to public safety and his genuine care for others touched countless lives. It was an honor and privilege to have known Chief Munn, and his memory will continue to inspire all of us who were fortunate enough to learn from his example.”

Former Bradford City Police Chief Chris Lucco had similar comments about Munn.

“I had the privilege of working with Chief Munn throughout my entire career. He was a true gentleman, deeply dedicated to public service and to the community of Foster Township. Chief Munn’s legacy will endure for decades, as he mentored countless young officers and guided many in the region at the start of their careers. Under his leadership, they developed a strong foundation — one that will continue to shape our law enforcement community for generations to come.”

The folks at The Guidance Center, where Munn worked after his retirement, were quite fond of the kind-hearted man, too.

“He was a wonderful addition to our team and his presence brought us security and knowledge we were lacking,” said Denise Bean, executive director. “Although he was with The Guidance Center for a short period of time as our facility security officer, he has left a lasting impact on all of us.”

The staff had kind words to remember him by.

“Tom was always smiling and lit up the halls of TGC. He will be greatly missed by our staff, and his family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers.”