Sonny Chambers, 63, of Port Arthur, died Monday, July 6, 2009, at Medical Center of Southeast Texas in Port Arthur.
On June 6, 1967, Sonny joined the Beaumont Police Department where he dedicated the next thirty-three years to the citizens of Beaumont and his fellow officers before retiring on December 21, 2000.
Sonny quickly became involved in Community Oriented Policing well before it was given a title. In 1970 he and fellow officers were presenting Narcotics and Safety seminars to the City of Beaumont and other surrounding areas.
Sonny served in a variety of positions during his time with the Beaumont Police Department. These include patrol officer, motorcycle officer, detective, team member on the original SWAT team and leader of the Police Community Relations Unit. It was at community relations where he excelled.
He coached and was involved in Little League Baseball for a number of years. In fact, many younger officers knew him by the title of Coach instead of Sergeant since he had coached many of them previously while his own children were growing up.
Sonny was heavily involved with community relations through the Police Department. He helped establish the Police Community Relations Unit as well as designed and construct the Beaumont Police Department Museum. He conducted numerous safety seminars for children and adults, and assisted with benefits for various organizations within the region. He was very proud to be the first involved with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, and he worked diligently with the Blue Santa Program. After obtaining a trailer for presentations, he conducted a safety program for children using puppets. During 1988-1993, he established the Beaumont Police Department Summer Youth Baseball Program for at risk youth, and was a Crime Stoppers Program Supervisor.
Survivors include his wife, Genell Chambers of Port Arthur; sons, Shane O’Niel Chambers of Beaumont, and Clinton Thomas “Leo” Chambers of Baytown; step-children, Clint Smith of Bossier City, Louisiana, and Tammy Nelson of Lufkin; brother, Tommy Chambers of Port Arthur; and five grandchildren, Shawn Allen Davis, Abigail Clare Eddins, Austin O’Niel Chambers, Jared Michael Chambers, and Andrew Patrick Foster.
His funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, July 9, 2009, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont with burial to follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches. Tom Scofield, Eddie McDonald, Mike Sheffield, Crystal Holmes, Bill Jordan, and Tommy Phillips will serve as pallbearers. A gathering of his family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2009, at Broussard’s.
Sonny was called many things, EO, Sonny, Officer, Patrolman, Sergeant, and Coach, but most importantly, loyal friend. By whatever name he was called, he will be greatly missed.
Memorial contributions may be made to Beaumont Police Benefit Association, P.O. Box 3827, Beaumont, Texas 77701.
