Chief Doyle Retires After 37 Years as One of Easton’s Finest

Easton Police Chief Richard Doyle will hang up his badge and uniform for the final time on June 25, after wearing them proudly for the past 37 years.

He came up through the ranks, first as a patrolman hired on Aug. 1, 1988, promoted to sergeant on Aug. 29, 2000, to lieutenant on March 18, 2004, captain on July 1, 2012 and top cop on April 6, 2020. 

During his notable career, he answered the call in all kinds of cases from drugs, domestics and traffic violations to the double murder investigation of Jeffrey and Jeanette Navin who rented a house on Staples Road in Easton, which led to the arrest and conviction of the victims’ son Kyle Navin and an accomplice. Fatal accidents, storms, floods, the death of firefighter Russell F. Neary during Superstorm Sandy, Easton’s connection to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, thefts, robberies and other crimes and incidents occupied his time and attention over the years.

Foti Koskinas, who recently retired as chief of the Westport Police Department, was sworn in as the new chief on June 9. Doyle described Koskinas as a “great guy.”

“The town is in good hands,” Doyle said. “I know he will continue the good work Easton’s past chiefs have done.”

Worked for “Great People”

Chief Gerard Hance led the department when Doyle was first hired. Next was Chief John “Jack” Solomon. 

“I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am now if it wasn’t for working for great people,” he said. “I worked for Chief Solomon for 18 years and learned so much from him and Chief (James) Candee, who was a sergeant when I was a patrolman.” 

Doyle was captain when Candee retired in 2015, and Timothy Shaw, who was then assistant chief of the Stamford Police Department, was named Easton’s new chief. 

“Chief Shaw taught me so much about leadership,” Doyle said. “I worked closest with him.” They literally worked around the clock on the Navin case.

Technology Revolution

“One of the biggest things in my career is the change in technology,” he said. “We went from having a single police radio with one switch to computers in the cars and body cameras and an internal operations records management system. I had a radio and a map when I started on the job. We used a couple of pay phones with location codes to communicate.”

“If someone retired 30 years ago and walked into the dispatch center now they would be amazed by the monitor cameras at all of the schools and the animal control facility,” he said. “Officers can talk directly to all police departments in Fairfield County.”

Athlete and Educator

One of four American-born children of Irish immigrants, Doyle and his family lived in Brooklyn during his early years and later moved to Long Island. He was a soccer star at Sachem High School in Lake Ronkonkoma. Years later, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018. 

Southern Connecticut State University recruited Doyle to play soccer at the university. It was his first introduction to the Nutmeg State. He departed his childhood home and family to play ball and pursue an education degree and later left his studies to work for the New York City Housing Authority. He graduated from the New York City Police Academy in 1986.

The good friends he made at Southern motivated him to return to Connecticut where he completed his bachelor’s degree at Sacred Heart University and earned a master’s degree in criminal justice and advanced investigations at the University of New Haven. He also graduated from the FBI National Academy. 

When it came to applying to openings at area police departments, Easton was the first to offer him a job. “They called first,” he said. The rest is history.

Hardest and Worst Parts of the Job

Doyle prefers to focus on the positive people he has worked with in the community and the police department rather than the negative aspects of the job.

Doyle has five children. “Whether it’s their birthday party,  Christmas, New Year’s Day, when the phone rings you answer and leave the family.”

He cited being on call 24-7 as the hardest part of the job. “When the phone rings at 3 a.m. you’ve got to go,” he said. “I hate to be negative, but being called out in the middle of the night on holidays and weekends for terrible traffic accidents is the hardest,” he said. Once he’s there adrenaline sets in and the camaraderie among the emergency responders makes it tolerable.

Fortunately, he didn’t have to travel far. His Shelton home is just 15 minutes away. His kids are older now. One of his sons is in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Spain. One of his daughters is a nurse and another is studying biomedical engineering at the University of New Haven. Two of his kids attend Shelton High School. He is divorced but has a good relationship with his ex-wife, he said. 

He recalled working “morning, noon and night” with former Chief Shaw and other Easton cops on the Navin case and being away from their families, sometimes not getting home until 5 a.m.

The worst part of the job is “going to somebody’s house and giving them bad news,” he said. “Wherever there are people there are social issues that cross lines of wealth, no matter what kind of house you live in. Easton cops handle situations and move on. They pride themselves on respecting people’s privacy and treating everyone as an individual.”

“In a small department, situations sometimes call for all hands on deck,” he continued. “There have been accidents in which Capt. (Jonathan) Arnold and I put on a green jacket and go out there and direct traffic.”

He is proud of Easton’s relationship with the Easton Emergency Medical Service, the Easton Fire Department and the police departments in surrounding communities. 

“One call to Fairfield, and we have five cops here,” he said. “The same thing goes for Trumbull, Westport and Redding. One phone call brings mutual aid for traffic, storms and other situations.”

“I always try to think of the good people who were so kind,” he said. “That’s the public service part. As first responders at medical calls we help people who are disabled and who fall. We get thank you cards, and people bring us food. They are grateful for the assistance.”

Covid Pandemic 

The Easton Police Department is designated as a first responder for the town. Some officers are EMTs, which allows for a better response to emergencies since they are out 24-7 and carry extensive medical bags and defibrillators, Doyle said.

Doyle met daily with First Selectman Dr. David Bindelglass during the early months of the Covid pandemic. Officers still had to respond 24-7 to accidents and incidents. Working together they implemented measures to keep everyone safe. Only one person at a time was allowed into the police department, along with limited staff. 

“I would say that was the most difficult and weirdest time, driving to work, and nobody was out and still having to function and provide essential services,” Doyle said. “So many people stayed home, but we couldn’t stay home.

“I was able to get every officer in one car. If someone had a fever or a cough we could maintain service. We still had to function. I’m proud of that. Even during that time, we got so much community support,” he said.

Bindelglass described the plan as “brilliant” and said, “As a result of these measures, the department only had one significant case of Covid while maintaining service to the public.”

Police Cameras

“I got promoted right after the George Floyd incident,” Doyle said. “We had cameras in our cars and then came body cameras, an unfunded mandate. Background storage servers are where most of the cost comes in. We got some funding from the state, but I had to go to the Board of Finance and ask for morDe money to satisfy the state mandate.”

Doyle said the officers like the car and body cameras. If someone makes a complaint about the way they were treated everyone can watch the video. “Sometimes it’s a matter of a different perception,” he said.

Advice for Next Chief

Doyle praised Foti Koskinas, whom he has met and spoken with many times and expects his successor will continue to receive the support he has had.

“Residents and non-residents just show up in the middle of the day,” he said. “They need to see the chief, and I would open the door and let them come in, and respond to their emails.”

He urges the new chief to take the time if someone wants to see him and realize it’s so important to the person, whether it’s a traffic issue, a problem with a child or spouse.

“Let them come in, say hello and be available,” Doyle said. “Easton is a great community. I love the people. Thankfully, for all the years I’ve been here, I have worked with great and conscientious people.”

Advice for Residents

“You don’t have to be paranoid but be aware of your surroundings,” Doyle counsels residents. “If you see something please call the police department immediately. Sometimes we get calls the next day. Call right away. Don’t be embarrassed. We’ll respond.”

 Don’t leave valuables in your car, even if it’s in your driveway, he further advises. Take the key fob and lock the door. Be a good neighbor and keep an eye out for elderly neighbors.

Future Dreams 

Doyle looks forward to spending more time with his family and sleeping as long as he likes without getting awakened in the middle of the night. He also plans to ride his bike and go to the beach.

“I’m going to stay local for now, while my kids are in school, and be available for my family,” he said, adding he’ll be available for Foti or any of the officers.

He will gladly share his institutional knowledge about the town with anyone who is interested.

“I will miss the people I work with and the people in the community I run into at the police department, Greiser’s and Silverman’s Farm,” he said. “I will miss the camaraderie among the police officers, and the EMS and fire department. It’s awesome and amazing how these people show up when called and do the job.”

Past and Present Leaders Comment

First Selectman Dave Bindelglass praised Doyle’s leadership and dedication to service during the pandemic, which helped with the community outreach. “His upbeat attitude and ability to talk with people respectfully helps de-escalate tense situations and make peace. He can also be tough when he needs to be.”

Bindelglass counts Doyle as one of the three local “historians” he goes to for background and information about years gone by. The other two are Ed Nagy, public works director, and Phil Doremus, longtime resident, who served the town in many staff and volunteer capacities over the years and is now retired.

Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw, who led the Easton Police Department from 2015 to 2020, said, “Rich was a great partner with me in my time in Easton. Having nearly 40 years of law enforcement experience in Easton paid major dividends for the town. His role as the emergency management director helped Easton get through major incidents involving major weather events as well as Covid. 

“When I first got to Easton, I learned very quickly that Rich was known around town and was the go-to guy for most of the Easton community. He knew everyone in town because he took the time to get out there and meet them. I was happy for him when he was named the chief, and I have seen firsthand what a great leader he was in that position. I wish him and his family nothing but the best,” Shaw said.

Former Chief James Candee, who retired in 2015, remembers when Doyle joined the department in 1988. “He came from the New York Police Department and had a lot of experience and street sense. He became a great investigator. Rich was a people person and had a knack for communicating with people, both the public and other cops. He became an instructor in interviewing and interrogation.” 

Former First Selectman Tom Herrmann described Doyle as “the embodiment of Easton Police Department organizational culture and the epitome of community policing.” You don’t see this level of respect, trust and understanding in other towns, he said.

“We truly have been blessed to have had him as an officer and as chief,” Herrmann said. He is always ready to help in a non-judgmental way. Members of the community walk away feeling better. Police officers go to the guy. They knew they could count on Rich for guidance, inspiration and reassurance in a non-confrontational way. He will be missed.”

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