Veteran Manatee fire chief to retire

Southern Manatee Fire & Rescue District Fire Chief Tom Hennessy announced yesterday that he will be retiring next month.

“After much soul searching and deliberation of my professional position and my future personal goals, I have made the decision to retire from the District and resign as chief of department,” Hennessy wrote in a letter to the Board of Fire Commissioners dated May 5. “…This has been the greatest job in the world and I have been blessed to have worked with such an outstanding group of individuals."

Hennessy’s retirement will be effective on June 12.

Contact Pam McTeer at [email protected].