Not sweating the small stuff has helped Detective Sean Dougherty get through tough times at the Concord Police Department.
“You see people at their worst. Sometimes you have to chuckle to get through it,” he said.
And get through it he did – on Nov. 30 the Loudon resident retired after serving the department for 23 years. At only 45 years old, Dougherty is looking forward to a life with a lot less work and more time at home with his kids.
Dougherty’s time at the department was no cakewalk. His career began in 1987 when he was hired as a probationary police officer. After 11 years at the department, he was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division as a youth services officer – a position he held until his retirement. Due to long hours and a heavy caseload, Dougherty recalled the earlier years in this role as the most challenging.
His job included “pretty much anything that involved a child as a subject or victim,” he said. As the years went on and the department’s resources expanded, Dougherty was able to concentrate more on specialty areas. He was made the Merrimack County Attorney’s Office liaison officer and headed up the sex offender registry. One of his most recent tasks was establishing the department’s procedures for sex offender tracking.
His hard work didn’t go unnoticed. Awards Dougherty has been given for exemplary performance include a Distinguished Unit Action Bar, three letters of appreciation, three letters of commendation from the Merrimack County Attorney’s Office, four letters of commendation and a letter of commendation from the attorney general. In 1998 he was named police officer of the year.
“Sean has been a good friend and an excellent police officer,” said Chief Robert Barry. “Although we’re sad to see him go, we’re excited for him and wish him well.”
Barry recalled the detective’s ability to chuckle and (in Dougherty’s words) “get through it.”
“Sean had a great knack for storytelling and a dry wit,” Barry said. “He was always able to keep things light at the police department, especially in times of stress.”
Maybe this is why, despite seeing people at their worst, Dougherty can look at his time at the department with fondness.
“There are good people here,” Dougherty said of his coworkers. “You have guys who work holidays together and midnights together. It’s your family.”
