Wright State police officer Dan Doherty recognized for crisis intervention

Wright State University police officer Dan Doherty

If you’ve ever talked with Wright State University police officer Dan Doherty, you wouldn’t be surprised to learn he has been named the Mental Health Recovery Board’s 2024 Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year in Greene County.

“I was shocked and honored,” said Doherty, who called his family to tell them the good news. “After chief told me I called my parents right away and told them ‘You’re not going to believe this,’ but they told me they were not surprised.”

Doherty was honored by the Mental Health Recovery Board on Sept. 27 in Springfield.

Doherty, who has been a member of the Wright State Police Department for almost two years, was recently named the university’s community engagement officer. He holds certifications in crisis intervention and mental health first aid and also has trained hundreds of faculty, staff and students in Question, Persuade, Refer suicide prevention training over the past 12 months.

“For Officer Doherty, every student’s story matters,” said Kurt Holden, director of public safety at Wright State. “He invests time and understanding into each interaction, demonstrating why he is deserving of this prestigious award.”

Doherty said he loves being in a position as a police officer to help others. He described a recent situation on campus when he helped a student who had lost her car keys. He could tell the student was extremely stressed so he told her he would do everything to find them.

“I got her into her car and couldn’t find them so then I walked with her around campus and retraced her steps,” said Doherty. “I got her back into her car a second time and fortunately we found her keys in the car.”

From little acts of kindness to responding to emergencies, Doherty said the Police Department assists people with various crises, which is what he loves about the job.

“I think I’m a very patient person and I’ll give someone all the time in the world,” he said. “If it takes me an extra 30 minutes to an hour of listening to someone’s problems to get them the help they need, that’s great with me.”

Wright State police Sgt. Chad Oleyar, who nominated Doherty for the award, said he has never seen him upset or angry.

Wright State police officer Dan Doherty was honored as the 2024 Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year in Greene County by the Mental Health Recovery Board.

“His warm personality and calm demeanor in delicate situations are the perfect combination for calming persons in crisis,” said Oleyar.

Doherty credits the Police Department for being community-oriented and loves participating in campus events like Donuts with Cops as a way to engage with students.

“It’s a great time to establish a connection with students so they know we are here for them,” said Doherty.

In 2023, the Wright State Police Department completed the One Mind Campaign, which trained officers to respond appropriately and safely to people with mental illness. At the time, the department was only one of three agencies in Ohio to have completed the training requirements.

“Our department focuses on being champions for our students,” said Holden. “Officer Doherty is a true champion of students and is known to go above and beyond each day to ensure that every student feels seen and supported. His dedication to not just do the job the right way, but for the right reasons, is why I believe he is so deserving of this honor.”