Overview

• Mayor Melinda Barrett said Chief Robert Pistone’s leave began Wednesday, offering no official explanation.
• Deputy Chief Stephen Doherty is serving as acting chief, with no timeline provided for the leadership change.
• An anonymous letter shared by Haverhill and Lawrence police union accounts accused Pistone of intimidation and inadequate support for officers after Officer Katelyn Tully’s Sept. 26 death.
• Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker said last month that Francis Gigliotti’s July death was ruled a homicide linked to intoxication and restraint, and the inquiry into whether officers’ actions were justified remains active.
• Seven officers were placed on paid leave after Gigliotti’s death, and Tully’s father told the Eagle-Tribune she was among them while also calling for Pistone to resign.