Chief John Cowan and Sandy Goode hung a plaque in the dispatch area of the East Bridgewater Police Department in honor of the late Sergeant Thomas Goode.

In 2003, at the age of 53, Goode died of cancer. He was an officer in East Bridgewater from 1978-2003.

“He was instrumental in computerizing the department,” said Chief John Cowan. “He was a leader on anything administrative. He was very knowledgeable and really helped bring technology into the department.”

The modern dispatch area was completed in 2007 and was dedicated in honor of Goode.

“This is a special way to honor him,” said retired Sgt. Larry Davidson, Goode’s close friend and colleague.

The new dispatch area was constructed due to the growth of the town and the growth of the department. Before the renovations there were two dispatch areas.

Cowan said that Goode was always going to classes and along with bringing technology to the department, he helped with researching grant applications.

“Tommy was a modern man before a lot of us,” said Davidson. “He was a great officer to work with.”

Goode was also described as an “easy-going guy” by many.

“He was easy tempered,” said Cowan. “I enjoyed working with him on the midnight shift when I first came to the department. Nothing rattled him. Only one time I think I saw him get angry,” said Cowan.

Davidson said that he got Goode to take the test and join the department.

“We grew up together, our houses were back to back,” said Davidson. “No one probably knew him better than me.”

After attending Northeastern University, Goode had plans of becoming a history teacher.

Davidson said that he and Goode played high school football together and the two were best friends, godfathers and grandfathers to each others families.

“We were as close as brothers,” said Davidson. The families often vacationed together.

Davidson said they even share a grandson because his son Larry married Goode’s daughter Emily and they had a son they named Thomas.

The two made sergeant together on July 1, 1982.

“Sergeant is basically a working foreman,” said Davidson. “They oversee officers’ reports and overall conduct.”

“If you surrounded by good officers it makes the job easy,” he said.

“Tommy was someone I really learned from,” said Davidson. “When he was put in charge he really took to his task.”

“He did so much work on the department initially growing,” said Cowan.