Haverhill Fire Completes Historic Hiring Surge, Swearing in 6 New Recruits and 3 Transfers

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Haverhill formally welcomed nine new firefighters Monday—six new recruits and three transfers from other communities—during a swearing-in ceremony in City Hall.

The hiring, completes an historic surge that began a year ago with receipt of a $4.1 million federal grant to add 16 positions to fill a second ladder truck and replace retiring firefighters. Fire Chief Robert M. O’Brien thanked his staff, including Capt. Richard Shellene, Deputies Eric Tarpy and Jeffrey Akstin and fellow firefighters that assisted during orientation and training.

“Since the end of January, we’ve hired 26 new firefighters. It’s a been a busy year,” he said.

As WHAV reported earlier, the six new recruits graduated Oct. 11 from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. They are Amanda Baxter, Derek Cochran, Filipe Mesquita, Sabrina Spero, Tyler Tarpy and Anthony Wilson. In addition, the department accepted three transfers from other area fire departments—Peter Nich from Ipswich, Hunter Hassam from North Andover and Anthony Dellacroce from Gloucester.

Mayor Melinda E. Barrett said Haverhill is safer with additional workforce and acknowledged the great undertaking it took to recruit and train so many new firefighters. “I want to compliment the chief and all his staff for onboarding all these firefighters because it was a herculean task to bring on 20 plus people in a very short amount of time,” she said.

Haverhill City Clerk Kaitlin M. Wright swore in the new members of the fire department

Besides the mayor and city clerk, City Council President Thomas J. Sullivan and Councilors Melissa J. Lewandowski and Ralph T. Basiliere were on hand to welcome the new additions. Barrett said the progress made by the fire department was made possible with the support of the City Council.