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Haverhill mayor names new acting police chief, places deputy chief on leave
The death of a man who was being detained by officers and the unexpected death of an officer have roiled the Haverhill Police Department.
In the span of a few days last week, Haverhill’s police chief was put on leave and abruptly retired. His replacement then lasted only a day before also being put on leave.
Mayor Melinda Barrett announced the update Friday night. It’s the latest in a set of developments to roil the Haverhill Police Department, which has been in turmoil for months since a man died in an interaction with officers. When an HPD officer died in late September, Chief Robert Pistone faced public outrage from families of Haverhill officers who said that he mishandled the response to both tragedies. In a public letter, they called him “an example of what happens when politics elevates the insecure and untested.”
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Shortly thereafter, the Haverhill Police Patrolman’s Association issued a vote of no confidence in both Pistone and Deputy Chief Stephen Doherty Jr. The union cited concerns about a lack of transparency, overall mismanagement, and a failure to support officers.
“These issues have contributed to a leadership environment that we believe has become detrimental to both officer morale and public trust,” the union said in a statement.
Pistone retired, and Doherty was named acting chief.
The next day, however, Barrett said that she had placed Doherty on paid administrative leave and named Captain Wayne Tracy as acting chief. That decision came after a “lengthy and detailed discussion” with the city’s two police unions, during which Barrett said she was “made aware of new information.”
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An independent investigation into departmental operations is set to begin on Thursday, according to Barrett. The move to replace Doherty with Tracy will allow the investigation “to proceed openly and with the full support and participation of members of the police department,” the mayor said.
“I believe these changes are in the best interests of both the department and the community,” Barrett said in a statement.
Conor Clark, president of the HPPA, praised Barrett and expressed optimism about working with Tracy in a statement posted online afterwards.
“Mayor Barrett leads with vision and compassion, and we are grateful for her partnership,” Clark said. “Strong leadership begins with listening, understanding, and standing alongside the officers who serve every day. The HPPA is committed to supporting Acting Chief Tracy in fostering a culture of collaboration and respect — both within the department and with the greater Haverhill community.”
The department came under scrutiny after Francis Gigliotti, 43, died after HPD officers attempted to detain him in July. According to a police report, witnesses told officers that Gigliotti smoked crack cocaine inside of a building on White Street “and began to freak out within seconds of smoking it.” Authorities said that they received reports of a man acting erratically, weaving in and out of traffic and nearly being struck by vehicles.
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Videos of the incident posted online appeared to show Gigliotti crying for help before losing consciousness, surrounded by police.
Gigliotti’s death was ruled a homicide by the state medical examiner’s office. It was attributed to an abnormal heartbeat caused by cocaine and alcohol intoxication and efforts by police to restrain him, Essex District Attorney Paul Tucker’s office said. Authorities were investigating “whether the actions of the police officers were justified.”
Seven HPD officers were placed on leave in connection with the incident. Officer Katelyn Tully, 32, was one of those officers, her father told The Eagle-Tribune. She died unexpectedly on Sept. 26, and her father believes that this was the result of a heart attack made more likely because of the stress she was under.
Alex MacMullen, Tully’s boyfriend and a police officer in Newbury, echoed some of these concerns in a statement shared with Boston.com last week.
“The incredible stress she endured following the July death of a person in HPD custody created stress and pain for me, her family, and others who were close to Katelyn,” he said. “As a fellow law enforcement professional, I am stunned by the clumsy and careless manner in which Haverhill Police Chief Robert Pistone has handled this tragedy, and the inquiry into the July incident.”
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The cause and manner of Tully’s death remains pending in the state medical examiner’s office.
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