Salem-Based HAWC Replaces Recently-Arrested Director

SALEM, MA — After the arrest of their recently-hired executive director Wednesday, the Salem-based domestic violence agency Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC) has decided to part ways with the woman who was slated to take the reigns of the organization.

In a press release Friday, the organization announced that its board of directors decided to terminate Rachel Morgan, 35, who had recently been brought on to run the organization. Morgan was arrested Wednesday on a warrant out of Texas, stemming from allegations that stole between $2,500 and $30,000 from the Grayson Crisis Center in Sherman, TX, her former employer.

HAWC also named interim executive director Paula Herrington as the organization's permanent director.

“The allegation was devastating news for HAWC. In spite of extensive due diligence in the hiring process, nothing was disclosed that would have raised any concerns of this nature," said Linda Puopolo in a statement, the president of HAWC's board of directors."My fellow board members and I are shocked and saddened by this information."

Morgan was arrested at the organization's offices Wednesday morning at around 10 a.m. She had been hired to assume the role as the organization's executive director earlier this month, but that she had not yet assumed the role. Herrington told Patch in a previous interview that Morgan was taken into custody without incident.

“HAWC has experienced no interruption of services as a result of this, and we remain committed to providing comprehensive domestic violence services to the North Shore Community,” said Herrington in a statement. “To survivors, our message is clear: HAWC is a valuable resource to those experiencing domestic violence, and we are here to serve you.”

Image of Paula Herrington via HAWC press release