Dic Donohue

Retired MBTA Transit Police Sgt. Dic Donohue ’12 is a model of resiliency.

In 2013, Donohue was shot during a police firefight with the Boston Marathon bombers in Watertown. The next thing he knew, he was in the hospital, unable to walk. For his bravery during the incident, he received the George L. Hanna Medal of Honor and the MBTA Transit Police Medal of Honor. Donohue has also been recognized by over 20 law enforcement and civic organizations for his subsequent involvement and community service.

Although Donohue returned to work after two years of grueling rehab, chronic pain forced him into early retirement. So he turned to teaching, starting as an adjunct at Fisher College. He enjoyed it and decided to pursue his Ph.D. in criminology at UML, where he completed his dissertation on police training methods – and accepted a job as a researcher at the RAND Corp.'s Boston office.

Donohue's primary areas of research focus on homeland security and law enforcement issues, including training, police-community relations, and recruitment/retention. He has led Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center projects and tasks on law enforcement firearms qualifications, workforce assessments, and terrorism/targeted violence data evaluations. He is currently a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Education and Training Policy Council and has recently published in Policing: An International Journal and the International Journal of Police Science & Management. Additionally, Donohue is a spokesman and board member for the American Red Cross, contributing his insights and leadership skills to enhance community resilience and disaster preparedness.

Donohue is also an accomplished speaker, frequently addressing topics such as "S.P.A.R (Survival Through Preparation, Adaptability & Resilience)" and "Leadership in a Time of Crisis" to diverse audiences including police academies, law enforcement executives, students, and private sector groups. His presentations are noted for their engaging and inspirational nature, effectively drawing lessons from his experiences that apply to both personal challenges and business operations. His research and outreach work are his ways of continuing to serve, even out of uniform. “It comes back to staying engaged in the law enforcement community in retirement and hopefully being able to create some positive change and help the profession continue to grow,” he says.