Head of RI State Police retiring

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Col. Brendan Doherty, superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and commissioner of Rhode Island Public Safety, announced Thursday he's retiring.

The state's top cop handed in his retirement notice to Gov. Lincoln Chafee at noon, effective April 1, according to a news release.

Doherty, who's been head of the state police since 2007.

At a news conference Thursday evening Col. Doherty said, "I have some thoughts of things that I want to do in the future and part of that is continuing to serve the people of the State of Rhode Island."

He also told Target 12 Investigator Tim White earlier in the day that it wasn't an easy decision.

“I do this with a heavy heart, I love this department and I love the people of the state of Rhode Island. I’ll look after this department until the day I die," Doherty said. "I’ve been thinking about this for some time. There have been rumors that I will have a future in other capacities. I do have future plans to stay engaged in public service.”

Doherty was referring to buzz that he would run for public office in the future.

“I’ll make the decisions as to what I’m going to do at a later date and then I will make an announcement at the appropriate time,” Doherty said, when asked if he was going to make a run at U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse in 2012.

• Reaction to Col. Doherty's retirement

The announcement comes just about a week after a public dispute between Doherty and his predecessor, Steven Pare, who is now Providence's public safety commissioner.

Doherty called Pare's decision to opt out of the Security Communities program, which allows law enforcement officers to check the immigration status of a person charged with a crime with a federal data base, "dangerous and irresponsible."

Doherty's criticism of Pare prompted a rebuke from Gov. Chafee.

"No, the governor did not ask me to step down," Doherty said. "In fact, I met with the governor for about an hour today. It was a cordial meeting."

Chafee spokesman Mike Trainor said the governor accepted Doherty's retirement with regret. Eyewitness News has learned that the governor has chosen a successor and will be making an announcement in the next day or two.

"I am confident the governor values the tradition of the department and will keep it in the hands of someone who has been with the state police," Doherty said.

Trainor said the governor could announce a successor within the week.