Thomas Kuh, a former administration of justice instructor at Glendale College, died on June 26 at the age of 56 from cancer.

Kuh was a Burbank native but spent most of his childhood in Virginia. After graduating from McLean High School in 1973, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he was stationed in Oklahoma. When he was discharged from the military, he moved back to California in 1981. This is when he joined the Glendale Police Department.

“Tom was a wonderful human being, a great police sergeant and a loving father,” said Alan Frazier, associate professor of administration of justice at Glendale College.

Kuh retired from the police department after 25 years and was awarded the Medal of Valor for Heroism, the department’s highest award.

“He especially distinguished himself during an active shooting incident,” said Frazier. “In 2008, he served as the initial field supervisor and actually engaged the shooter with an AR-15 rifle.”

Kuh was an active member and past commander of the American Legion Post 377, a non-profit veteran’s organization.

Since his retirement, he was a highly regarded instructor.

“He was a big sports guy, so it was fun to have this older person to look up to and watch games