TUCSON, ARIZONA – April 4, 2022 – Pima County Attorney Laura Conover is pleased to welcome tv news veteran Shawndrea Thomas to her team as Communications Director. Shawndrea brings more than 15 years of media experience to the PCAO with valuable insight into the areas of crime reporting, investigations, and community relations.
Shawndrea joins the team after recently working as an anchor and investigative reporter at KGUN 9 News in Tucson. She also spent time working at television stations in Midland, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; Orlando, Florida and St. Louis, Missouri. During her time in St. Louis, she extensively covered the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri after the death of Michael Brown and was on the ground reporting on it from the start. She also spent months on the airwaves sharing the aftermath with the public, including an investigation by the Department of Justice and the fight for systemic justice reform changes that followed.
Shawndrea has used her journalism knowledge to lead an investigative series for Oxygen Network called “The Disappearance of Phoenix Coldon” a missing person’s case that put a spotlight on the inequities regarding news coverage, and investigations involving and missing people of color. This project led to her creating a podcast to help families get the word out about their missing loved ones. Previously, Shawndrea has worked in marketing and communications for the Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Harlem Globetrotters, Bayer Marana, and Radio Disney.
“This is a full circle moment for me and wonderful opportunity. I’m able to use my journalism experience and passion for helping others to fight for justice and help improve their lives in a unique way. I’m excited to be a part of such an amazing team that works hard for the people of Pima County to make a difference while helping to make our region a safer place for everyone.” Thomas said.
“I’m so excited to have Shawndrea join my team. Her background as a devoted and well-respected journalist gives her a wide scope of everything from police investigations and violent crime, to understanding and hearing the voice of the victim and being a voice for those who need it, during times of unrest. She’s the right woman at the right time and I’m honored to have her lead the communications team,” Conover said.
Shawndrea holds two bachelor’s degrees from Arizona State University in Broadcast Journalism and Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in African American Studies and Intercultural Communications. She’s also an advocate for skin cancer awareness, a cause near and dear to her heart after losing her brother to the disease.
Shawndrea will be responsible for working with local, state, and national news media, managing the Office’s public platforms, including the website, and social media.
Media Contact: Shawndrea Thomas
Director of Communications
Pima County Attorney’s Office
(520) 724-5738 (Office)
(520) 310-4720 (Mobile)
Shawndrea.Thomas@pcao.pima.gov
Update from the Pima County Attorney’s Office
Thank you to our friend Dylan Smith at the Tucson Sentinel for pointing out that the news release below announcing the arrival of Shawndrea Thomas as Communications Director at the Pima County Attorney’s Office omitted information about former Communications Director C.T. Revere.
After serving in that role for a year, C.T. happily accepted a new assignment as a Special Staff Assistant working with PCAO’s Community Outreach team and doing what he most enjoys – working with the community in many ways, including lending a hand at neighborhood clean-ups.
This change allows C.T. to continue working in the community, something he developed a passion for while working for the Arizona Department of Transportation and as a consultant in the private sector before joining PCAO.
