THOMASVILLE — A high-ranking Thomasville Police Department officer’s life changed when, at 19, he witnessed the murder of a Florida State University football player.

Pablo Lopez was struck with a shotgun blast to the stomach on the FSU campus in 1986, and “went to the ground,” said Capt. Maurice Holmes.

“We were looking directly at each other,” Holmes said about Lopez’s last breaths. “It was like he was looking through me.”

Holmes knew he had to get out of the environment he was in.

“That was a Saturday. I joined the army on Monday,” he said.

Born and raised in Tallahassee, Holmes, 52, is returning to the town he left 33 years ago in a capacity far removed from his earlier life in Florida’s capital city.

On Saturday, Holmes will assume the role of one of three deputy police chiefs to Chief Lawrence Ravell, who was recently appointed to the position.

Holmes and Ravell have been friends since they were 11, were high school classmates and played football together.

Holmes will return to a city he saw in decline with a rising crime rate, when he decided in the 1980s the military might be the answer for him. He was right.

The Army opened new horizons for Holmes, exposed him to new cultures, provided skills, instilled a new level of discipline and showed him he could amount to something in life.

After the Army stint, Holmes attended Alabama A&M University, where he played football. Without enough money to remain in college, Holmes lived with an Army buddy in Hawaii and worked in security at a resort hotel across the street from Waikiki Beach for three years.

He moved to Atlanta in 1993 and worked as a security officer at Morehouse College. He became a state-certified peace officer, later reached the rank of sergeant with the Henry County Police Department, then became assistant chief with the Lithonia Police Department.

“I left there because of political toxicity and a lack of funds when the city lost its insurance,” Holmes said.

He joined the Thomasville police force in 2005, beginning as a patrol officer, rising through the ranks to Criminal Investigation Division commander. Since May 2019, Holmes has been Community Relations Division commander.

Thomasville Police Chief Troy Rich said Holmes will be missed greatly.

“I am happy for him, because he has an opportunity to return to his hometown to provide excellent law enforcement leadership for the organization and community,” Rich said.

The chief described Holmes as a trusted confidant and professional colleague.

The majority of crimes in Tallahassee and Thomasville are committed by individuals ages 13 to 20, Holmes, who holds a master’s degree, said.

“We’re going to have to identify those individuals,” the officer said, in reference to his new position.

He plans to look into gang presence in Tallahassee. Youths from broken homes and as young as 8 or 9 are recruited by gangs, Holmes said.

Coming from an underprivileged background, Holmes wants youngsters to experience receiving help, improving themselves and earning a salary.

“My foundation of it all is my faith in God,” Holmes explained. “I always knew God had me.”

Holmes said the turmoil in Thomasville government during the past two years caused “unnecessary distractions.” He attributed the situation to some in the justice system, some Thomasville City Council members and some of his counterparts.

“It has taken police away from continuing to ensure that citizens are safe and properly secure and from otherwise doing our jobs,” Holmes said.

He and his wife, Sylvia, are in the process of moving to Tallahassee.

Holmes expressed shock at the “big opportunity” with Tallahassee Police Department.

“This has never happened to me, and I’m going home,” he said.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820