Fiorentini, Police to Show Gangs ‘We Are in Charge’ at Weekend Mount Washington Peace Block Party

Haverhill's Bailey Boulevard police station. (WHAV News file photograph.)

Haverhill’s local leaders and members of law enforcement are gearing up to “take back the streets” of the Mount Washington neighborhood Saturday during a peace-themed block party and community gathering from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Wysocki Park.

Free food, music and face painting is being supplied by the Haverhill Police Department during the family-friendly event, held between Central Street and Park Avenue.

“The idea is to walk through the neighborhood and show that we are in charge, police and the great people who live in this community, not the gangs,” Fiorentini said. “My message is that we are not giving up on these neighborhoods and that we will put up as many police officers as needed to make sure our residents are safe.”

The event comes less than a month after the neighborhood was the location of a brazen daytime shooting on Jackson Street. Three people—a Haverhill man, Peabody woman and Rhode Island man—were arrested and charged with firearms offenses after police responded to a shots fired call that resulted in more than $1,200 worth of damage to two houses in the neighborhood. No people were injured.

As WHAV reported on Sept. 15, 18-year-old self-described Haverhill gang member Brian Grande allegedly bragged about having his gun out in broad daylight, going so far as to tell a Haverhill Police officer involved in arresting him for the shooting he wished he turned the gun on that officer instead.

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