Since 2006, Joseph M. Dooley has been Chief of Police/Director of Public Safety at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Conn.  In this position, he leads 28 sworn officers, seven full-time civilian personnel and 24 part-time University Assistants, all of whom are responsible for the safety and security of the university’s 12,000 students, faculty and staff.

 

Prior to joining Southern, Chief Dooley served for 25 years with the Orange, Conn., Police Department, commencing as a patrol officer in 1981. He held that role until 1985, when he began a progression up the department’s hierarchical ladder by being named an investigator with the Investigative Services Unit. This was quickly followed by promotions to Sergeant in 1986 and Lieutenant in 1987, a position he held until 1995 when he was appointed Assistant Chief of Police.

In 2002, he was elevated to Chief of Police, where he oversaw a department of 42 sworn and 12 civilian personnel for the next four years.

 

A graduate of Notre Dame High School in West Haven, Conn., Chief Dooley holds a B.S. degree in criminal justice administration from the University of New Haven and a MBA degree from Southern Connecticut State University. He graduated from the Police Officer Standard Training Academy in Milford, Conn., in 1981 and attended the FBI National Academy 148th Session at Quantico, Va., in 1987.

 

Prior to his appointment as President of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association for 2014-15, Chief Dooley was honored with the Distinguished Chief’s Award presented by the Police Commissioners Association of Connecticut in May, 2006. He also served as President of the Connecticut Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates in 2004-05 and the South Central Chiefs of Police Association in 2009.

 

He is a former board member and Chairman of the Notre Dame High School Board of Directors. Chief Dooley has also been president of St. Mary Church (Milford) Parish Council. In 2013, he was recognized with Notre Dame’s Knight of Honor Award and in 2014, the Connecticut Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run Hall of Fame Award.

 

Chief Dooley is a member of the following groups and organizations: International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators; Law Enforcement Executive Development Association; International Association of Chiefs of Police; Connecticut Chiefs of Police Association; New England Chiefs of Police; South Central Chiefs of Police; FBI National Academy Associates Association and National Law Enforcement Associates.

​