[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 18 (Friday, January 28, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E74]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN RECOGNITION OF POLICE CHIEF WALTER SWEENEY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 28, 2022

  Mr. KEATING. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the career of 
Police Chief Walter Sweeney, who is retiring from the Hanover Police 
Department after 43 years of service to our community.
  Walter Sweeney grew up in Massachusetts, graduating from Hanover High 
School. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from 
Stonehill College and a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice 
Administration from Western New England College.
  Chief Sweeney began his career with the Town of Hanover in 1977 as a 
volunteer firefighter and later joined the Hanover Police Department in 
1978 as an emergency communications center dispatcher. From there, he 
rose through the ranks--serving as an officer, sergeant, and lieutenant 
before ultimately being appointed police chief in 2008.
  Chief Sweeny pursued additional opportunities to serve his community 
and is an active member of several committees. He is a past president 
of the Plymouth County Chiefs of Police Association and a current 
member of the Plymouth County Outreach Board of Directors. Chief 
Sweeney also holds membership status in the Massachusetts Chief of 
Police Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, 
and the Southeastern Massachusetts Chiefs of Police. Additionally, 
Chief Sweeney was appointed as the Acting Town Manager for the Town of 
Hanover in 2012 and is also a long-lime instructor at the Massachusetts 
State Police Academy.
  Chief Sweeney's leadership and commitment to reforming law 
enforcement's role towards drug addiction and recovery is among his 
outstanding achievements. Sweeney has been on the Plymouth County 
Outreach team, a collaboration of police departments focused on helping 
those with substance abuse disorder. since its founding in 2017. The 
program, which Chief Sweeney was instrumental in creating, has been 
nationally recognized for its innovation and results after fatal 
overdoses in Plymouth County decreased by 26 percent. Chief Sweeney has 
been a strong advocate for the PCO model and presented on this program 
at the 2020 COAP National Forum and the 2019 PAARI National Conference.
  I want to congratulate Chief Sweeney on his exemplary career and 
service to our community. Chief Sweeney will gather with family and 
friends on December 16 to celebrate his retirement from the Hanover 
Police Department. I thank Chief Sweeney for his lifetime of exemplary 
service. I wish him and his family all the best in your future 
endeavors.

                          ____________________