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Livermore Police Chief Steve Sweeney Retiring in March

Chief Steve Sweeney has been with the Livermore Police Department since 1984 and chief since 2007.

Livermore's highest ranking police officer is calling it a career.

Chief Steve Sweeney will step down from his post on March 29, ending a 29-year career with the Livermore Police Department, according to the Contra Costa Times.

In a statement, Livermore Mayor John Marchand said:

The excellence of our police department is a direct reflection of Chief Sweeney's unparalleled leadership. I have been honored to work with a chief of his caliber, and Livermore is a better place because he has served our community so well.

Sweeney started as a patrol officer and member of the SWAT team. He made his way through the ranks, becoming a detective, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain before becoming chief.

What do you think of Sweeney's tenure as police chief? Is Livermore safer today than it was when he took over as chief in 2007? Tell us in the comments section below.

JDOG January 24, 2013 at 10:57 pm
Thank you Sweeney! You did a great job and I hope your successor can live up to all you have done for Livermore.
D C Taylor January 24, 2013 at 11:04 pm
Congratulations on a tremendous career, Chief.
However, what I am most interested in, is whether or not your replacement will actually defend the Constitution, or will he yield to the feds when they come busting in our doors?
Terry Givens January 24, 2013 at 11:14 pm
Chief,
Congratulations on your retirement. Thank you for your years of service and more importantly thank your entire family for allowing you to take all the time away from them to serve us. Your wife and family are saints!
MagWil01 January 24, 2013 at 11:31 pm
Chief Sweeny. Congrats on your retirement though I am sad to see you go. As a graduate of the Citizens Police Academy I was able to learn first hand what your ideas had done for livermore, your motto, your honesty, your service. Thanks for your dedication. Maggie
50 years here January 24, 2013 at 11:39 pm
He's done me no service, when I was wrongfully charged with a seatbelt violation by Ms. Gung Ho Rajbeho, he would only say "You're not helping me do my job" Wish I could have it so easy!
david January 24, 2013 at 11:51 pm
Quit whinning about your ticket, you could have gone to court and had your day - now stop acting like a spoiled child.
Robert January 25, 2013 at 12:03 am
QUIT WHINING ABOUT A DAMN TICKET.....THIS ARTICLE ISN'T FOR YOU TO VOICE YOUR DISSATISFACTION OR GRIEVANCES OVER A SEATBELT VIOLATION!!!!!QUIT THINKING ONLY ABOUT YOURSELF AND EITHER SAY SOMETHING POSITIVE OR LEAVE THE PAGE! I SWEAR, SHOW SOME RESPECT!
Robert January 25, 2013 at 12:14 am
Congrats on a great career Steve....I still remember you as a patrol officer, and you were always nice to me, even though I'm sure I gave you hard times every time you made contact with me!LOL Enjoy your retirement!!!!I'm sure I'll try and make contact before you leave!
Kathy Montgomery January 25, 2013 at 01:22 am
Best Wishes to you Chief Sweeney upon your retirement. You will be missed by many. Thank you for all you have done in all the years you have been with the Livermore Police Department. Sending this note with lots of gratitude....
Tom Fletcher January 25, 2013 at 01:30 am
Thank you Chief. You are an outstanding police officer and an even better man!
Kathy Rooney January 25, 2013 at 01:37 am
Congratulations, Steve!
Patrick M. January 25, 2013 at 02:19 am
Did anyone see this coming??
Patrick Martin
Linda Ballou January 25, 2013 at 05:38 am
Hey Chief Sweeney, It was always a pleasure serving you over the Years at Emil Villa's. You have been a great police Chief and I always felt you should have been Chief when Ron left. Enjoy your retirement. You will be missed by all.
Linda
Trevor Tooze January 25, 2013 at 12:34 pm
You wilbe leaving with your head held high, and the gratitude of most Livermore residents, for making Livermore Poice Department, one of the finest.
Ron Kraft January 25, 2013 at 02:23 pm
Good job Chief. We appreciate what you and the department do for the city.
bjunehill January 25, 2013 at 02:27 pm
Chief Sweeney,
Good man, great career--Livermore is a better place because of you. Barbara Hill
MTCWBY January 25, 2013 at 03:04 pm
Nothing against Chief Sweeney but doesn't it seem like we have a revolving door at police and fire chief? I would guess it has a lot to do with the current pension system that effectively makes them work for almost nothing past a certain point.
Carole Price January 25, 2013 at 03:05 pm
Chief Sweeney,
Livermore will miss you. Thanks for your great support of CPAAA. Enjoy your retirement. Carole Price
Ken Sair January 25, 2013 at 03:45 pm
Welcome to the retirement club my friend. Ken Sair
Betsy January 25, 2013 at 03:52 pm
Thank you Chief for all of your years of hard work and dedication to the citizens of Livermore. We appreciate it and thank you for making Livermore a better place. Enjoy some time off, you have earned it!
Roger Johnson January 25, 2013 at 05:48 pm
Congratulations Chief..! It was a pleasure working under your command.
Michael Bartholomew January 25, 2013 at 07:22 pm
Congratulations Chief Sweeney..enjoy your retirement..Livermore is a Safe and Proud place to live thanks to Law Enforcement Leaders such as yourself.
CAofficerX January 25, 2013 at 08:23 pm
Hey Numbnuts, I would have wrote you a ticket too! I can also presume you failed the 'Attitude' test as well. Next time wear your seatbelt so they don't have to scrape your lifeless carcass from the pavement some day!

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