2024 De-escalation Options Initiative

In 2023 the Haverhill Police Department began an initiative to provide officers with more tools to help with de-escalation during encounters with volatile, aggressive and assaultive individuals.  The Haverhill Police Department recognizes the need to provide these tools because they help promote calmer interactions that are safer for everyone involved.  The Haverhill Police Department used 2023 JAG funds to begin the purchase of tasers for officers and also ballistic shields for all of our patrol line cars.  We know that these tools help combat the problems associated with Use of Force incidents, to inlcude, diminished public trust, legal liability, civilian injury and officer injury.  In 2024 we are planning to buy the remaining tasers that we need in order to be able to provide every officer with a taser on shift and the training that they require to use it.