Haverhill Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro said the grant will help him with areas of the city Haverhill “hit particularly hard by crime on a continual basis.” (WHAV News file photograph.)
Haverhill is receiving more than $250,000 from the state to help bolster police staffing.
This year’s $255,200 grant is up $50,200 from last year, officials said in a statement. The sum is part of $3 million awarded to police departments across the state by the Gov. Charles Baker administration. Haverhill Rep. Andy X. Vargas said he is thankful for the grant.
“Having a well-staffed police department means a better protected city and a higher quality of life for our officers and residents,” Vargas said. “Since my early days on the Haverhill City Council, I’ve supported the police department being fully funded so we can continue to make important strides in public safety.”
In acknowledging the grant, Haverhill Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro pointed to challenges his department has had to face. “This grant will also enable us to continue to provide services to those areas of the city hit particularly hard by crime on a continual basis throughout the year,” the chief said.
Sen. Diana DiZoglio, who previously supported the grant as a state representative, said “As we continue to battle the scourge of opioids in Haverhill, this money will go a long way toward maintaining adequate staffing to ensure that all corners of this city are well-policed and protected.”
Reps. Linda Dean Campbell and Christina Minicucci also praised release of the grant.