By WHAV Staff |
5 hours ago
Haverhill Police Capt. Stephen J. Doherty Jr. accepts his diploma at the conclusion of the 141st Administrative Officers Course at the Southern Police Institute in Louisville, Ky. on May 9, 2019. (Courtesy photograph)
A nearly 25-year veteran of the Haverhill Police force is slated to be formally sworn in as deputy police chief tomorrow morning.
Capt. Stephen J. Doherty Jr. was reportedly promoted this week by Mayor James J. Fiorentini. There has not yet been a public release detailing the appointment from the mayor’s office despite the mayor’s promise in January to fill the vacancy using a process that he called “open, transparent and, above all, fair.” Similarly, despite WHAV’s request, the mayor this week withheld immediate release of the names of five developers vying to redevelop parcels on Merrimack Street. The mayor told WHAV he has 10 days to respond to requests under the state’s public records law a legal interpretation WHAV News
Upcoming retirements mean major changes in the leadership of Haverhill’s public safety departments.
Two recruitment efforts are already underway in City Hall to replace Fire Chief William F. Laliberty and Deputy Police Chief Anthony L. Haugh. Both men retire this month after decades of service. Mayor James J. Fiorentini says he is also looking ahead to the retirement of Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro.
“DeNaro has already told us he is nearing retirement age. He is going to be retiring shortly so we want to have some continuity in the department,” he said.
As WHAV reported first last November, Laliberty is retiring after 34 years as a Haverhill firefighter and four and a half years as chief. Similarly, Haugh retires after serving on the police force 33 years the last five as deputy.