The chief of the Haverhill Police Department is on leave as officers under him question his leadership following the death of an officer and the death of a man while in police custody.

Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett confirmed to media that Chief Robert Pistone Jr. was on leave as of Wednesday and that deputy chief Stephen Doherty Jr. is in charge.

The move comes days after the Lawrence police union shared an anonymous letter condemning Pistone’s leadership which was in turn shared by the Haverhill police union the same day.

“You hold the (title) of ‘Chief’ only because politics handed you the title,” the letter, purportedly written by a family member of a Haverhill police officer, begins. “Titles can be given. Respect must be earned. And you have not earned it.”

The letter mentione

See Full Page