By John C. Ensslin
Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer

Back when the investigation into JonBenet Ramsey's death was measured in days, not months, Boulder Detective Steve Thomas showed a picture of the tiny victim to a reporter.

It was a portrait of a pretty 6-year-old girl, no beauty pageant costumes, no makeup.

This is what it's all about, he said.

Back then, Thomas understood that this was the kind of case that could make or break a career.

It broke his, nearly two years later.

After sticking with the investigation through 20 often tumultuous months, Thomas resigned Thursday, ending a 13-year career with the Boulder Police Department.

In the scalding resignation letter to his boss, Chief Mark Beckner, that blamed bungling by Boulder District Attorney Alex Hunter and his staff for hopelessly crippling the case, Thomas ended the letter on a poignant note.

"At 36 years old, I thought my life's passion as a police officer was carved in stone," he wrote. "I realized that although I may trade my badge for a carpenter's hammer, I will do so with a clear conscience."

Possible witnesses or suspects in the Ramsey case who had been interviewed by Thomas described him as pleasant and professional.

"He's a nice guy," said Jim Marino, a longtime friend of John Ramsey's who was interviewed many times by Thomas. "I didn't feel like he was a cop. I wasn't intimidated by him."

Steve Headly, a Boulder officer who served with Thomas on the SWAT team, called Thursday a sad day for the department.

"I think we've lost one of our outstanding police officers," Headly said.

"He was very meticulous, very thorough. He'd take any case, regardless of how significant it may seem and take it as far as he could go whether there were leads or no leads."

Staff writer Lisa Levitt Ryckman contributed to this report.

August 8, 1998