Haverhill Police Deputy Chief Anthony Haugh (left) and Captain Robert Pistone chatted at Tuesday’s National Night Out. (Jay Saulnier photograph for WHAV News)
Haverhill’s Swasey Field was the place to beat the heat Tuesday night, with the Blaisdell Street park playing host to the National Night Out community policing effort.
Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro and his department’s officers and employees joined Mayor James J. Fiorentini, state Rep. Andy Vargas and city residents to celebrate summer with free food, music and family-friendly fun.
DeNaro told WHAV he was thrilled with the turnout for the annual event—his 16th since becoming police chief in 2002. As the department head explained, the community policing effort allows for trust to be built between his officers and residents.
“It’s great to connect with the community on a one-to-one basis,” he told WHAV. “They get to know us, we get to know them, hear their concerns, and just have a good time.”
Free activities Tuesday included a dunk tank, inflatable slides and a bounce house. A concert from Imagine, the duo of Isabel Sierpina of Haverhill and Boxford’s Jessie Greelish also took place under the direction of Be Imagine Studio’s Ben Goldbaum. The 9-year-old girls performed a selection of songs including their original tune “Climb It.”
Sgt. Gary Mastrangelo and Sgt. Scott Sousa from the Essex County Sheriff’s Office brought out their K-9 partners Chico and Patton for a demonstration on tracking and bite techniques. WHAV also spotted democratic congressional candidate Dan Koh and Jonathan Lunde and Miguel Quinones of Haverhill’s new UTEC streetworker team mingling with residents and Haverhill Police officers.
For more from 2018’s National Night Out, check out WHAV’s photo gallery.