Haverhill and Lawrence are among 16 communities sharing $4.6 million in state money to boost staffing levels.
Haverhill received $255,200, while Lawrence received almost $1 million from the Massachusetts Municipal Public Safety Staffing Grant program. The money may be used to restore, retain or hire personnel, or for overtime, if needed, to provide adequate shift coverage.
Haverhill Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro thanked Gov. Baker’s office in a statement Friday. He said, “The grant allows cities like Haverhill to bridge the financial gap needed to assist with proactive community-oriented policing.”
Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera said the annual state allotment has helped that city “to consistently grow our Police Department. That growth has directly resulted in the success we have seen reducing crime numbers to a 20-year low.”
“We are very proud of the strong relationships we have with communities across the Commonwealth and we are grateful for the life-saving work of our first responders,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “These funds will allow 16 public safety agencies to maintain their emergency response capabilities and keep their cities and towns safe.”