Haverhill Police’s Doherty Graduates 141st Administrative Officers’ Course With Dean’s Scholar Distinction

Haverhill Police Capt. Stephen J. Doherty Jr. accepts his diploma at the conclusion of the 141st Administrative Officers Course at the Southern Police Institute in Louisville, Ky. on May 9, 2019. (Courtesy photograph)

As a 22-year veteran of the Haverhill Police Department, Capt. Stephen J. Doherty Jr. has moved beyond firearms and handcuff training. These days, the current detective commander oversees several departments including narcotics, the gang unit and property and evidence.

In an effort to keep his administrative skills sharp, Doherty recently completed a semester at the prestigious Southern Police Institute as part of the 141st Administrative Officers course, with the blessing of Haverhill Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro.

Doherty was one of 45 students representing 37 agencies from 16 states nationwide to take part in the program. The sole student from Massachusetts, Doherty was one of two students to receive the J. Allen Lamb & Edward S. Pocock III Foundation/Southern Police Institute AOC New England Scholarship.

In a conversation with WHAV, Doherty calls the 12-week law enforcement management course held at the University of Louisville the “best experience of his career.”

Haverhill Police Deputy Chief Anthony Haugh (left) and Chief Alan R. DeNaro celebrated Doherty’s accomplishment. (Courtesy photograph)

“It’s not very often you get to immerse yourself in three months of just paying attention to enriching your educational experience,” he said. “It was the best experience I’ve had in my entire professional career.”

Enrolling in courses on criminal justice administration and managing organizational performance kept Doherty—elected vice president of his class—on track to become a police chief, he said.

Throughout the three-month program, Doherty developed a special bond with SPI instructor and former Henderson, Ky. Police Chief John C. Reed Jr. As Doherty tells WHAV, Reed was among those to inspire him to be a better leader for both his colleagues and the community.

“It’s not about placing people under arrest anymore or how to handcuff. That’s not what we do. Our job is leading the troops in a direction and trying to maintain a positive work environment and trying to make sure that the department is working as efficiently and as effectively as possible,” Doherty told WHAV.

Capt. Stephen Doherty poses with Edward S. Pocock III. (Courtesy photograph)

Doherty is also quick to praise the efforts of another police chief: Haverhill’s own DeNaro, who nominated him to attend and excused him from his local duties to take part in the residential program.

“It goes back to the Chief for allowing us to go to these types of trainings because at the end of the day, you’re missing an employee for three months. As much as I think he’s proud of what I’ve done there, I appreciate him putting me in a position to be able to go and be able to do well there.”

Haverhill’s Deputy Chief Anthony L. Haugh is also a graduate of the course, having attended in 2009 as part of the 121st class.

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