Police Chief Walter Sweeney (left) and Fire Chief Jeffrey Blanchard (right). Photo: Suzanne Sausville / WBZ
HANOVER, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) – Both the police chief and fire chief in Hanover are retiring, but that’s not the only thing they have in common.
Fire Chief Jeffrey Blanchard and Police Chief Walter Sweeney were born just four days apart in 1960. The two met in the sixth grade while attending Hanover Junior High School.
During these days both chiefs did what most middle school boys did back then from riding bikes to pick-up football games. Ultimately, their interests brought them closer together.
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“As we continued through school we continued to find ourselves in the same circle of people and just became more friendly,” Sweeney explained.
Blanchard went down the fire route and Sweeney down the police route and eventually both became chiefs. Throughout their respective careers both men’s families started to spend a lot of time together and also formed a strong bond.
“I have two daughters and Jeff has two sons and they consider themselves like brothers and sisters,” Sweeney said.
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Looking back, both Sweeney and Blanchard say they feel like more than just friends.
“I actually have three brothers and some of those are brother activities that we’ve done, [some] we actually include Jeff in,” Sweeney said.
“We’re as close as brothers would be,” added Blanchard.
Both have already had their retirement parties and their last day on the job is December 31.
WBZ’s Suzanne Sausville (@wbzSausville) has more:
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