LAWRENCE — Police Detective Thomas Cuddy died suddenly Tuesday, police confirmed.
Cuddy, 55, was a 21-year veteran of the Lawrence Police Department and a native Lawrencian.
Details of his cause of death were unavailable late Tuesday.
He was the department’s public information officer and special assistant to the police chief since 2008, according to his LinkedIn social media page.
In those roles, Cuddy worked with the local and Boston press, fielding calls, texts and emails every day of the week. He also worked as a liaison between the police department and community and neighborhood groups.
An Irish American from a large family, Cuddy led the planning and organization of the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parades. He was also a fixture at annual Irish Month dinner dances and luncheons.
Prior to law enforcment, Cuddy, a devout Catholic, studied in the seminary. He left to become a police officer. He and his wife, Sheila, had two children.
He was one of six children of the late James and Betty Cuddy.
Cuddy attended St. Patrick’s Church on South Broadway where he was also known to sing during services.
He was a standout football player at the Greater Lawrence Technical High School where he graduated in 1988.
Later, in 2011, he earned a Master of Arts in criminal justice from Curry College.
Cuddy was preceded in death by his close friends, Lawrence Police Sgt. Charles Saindon, who died in February 2024 of a sudden illness, and Billerica Police Sgt. Ian Taylor, who died in April 2024 after an accident while he was working a traffic detail.
This is a developing story. Check back to eagletribune.com for updates. A full report will appear online and in Thursday’s print edition of The Eagle-Tribune.
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