'French Connection' cop James Doherty dies
Retired NYPD Det. Sgt. James Doherty of Islip, who played a role in the French Connection case. Credit: Handout
James Doherty of Islip spent his life in law enforcement.
He started as a rookie patrolman in Harlem in 1956, then, as a detective, investigated the missing "French Connection" drugs during the 1970s, and continued doing background checks as a private investigator up to his death this week.
Doherty, 80, died Monday of complications from a heart condition, his family said. His death came just three months after that of his wife of 52 years, Elizabeth.
"They had 52 wonderful years of love and marriage," their daughter, Elizabeth Fergo of Islip, said.
She said that even in recent years the couple often slipped away to the Bay Shore Marina "for some submarine race-watching" -- an old-time term for smooching in a parked car.
Doherty was born in Manhattan, grew up in Queens and entered the U.S. Marine Corps after high school, his family said.
He served with 1st Marine Air Wing in Korea during the Korean War.
Retired NYPD Det. Sgt. James Doherty. Credit: Handout
After leaving the Marines in 1953 he went to work on Wall Street, but left to join the NYPD in 1956. His first assignment was street patrol in the 25th Precinct in Harlem, but he was soon transferred to more desirable plainclothes work and was later promoted to detective and to sergeant.
His assignments included wiretaps and surveillance work on cases involving labor racketeering, mob gambling operations, narcotics and homicides, according to a profile in 2005 in the police magazine Spring 3100.
He was one of six lead detectives assigned in 1973 to investigate the disappearance of millions of dollars worth of seized French Connection heroin from the police property clerk's office -- a theft that was never fully explained.
Doherty retired from the NYPD in 1980 and worked as an investigator for the Department of Defense. He left that job to work as investigator with the Suffolk County district attorney's office from 1990 to 1997. He later worked as a private investigator and contract investigator for federal agencies.
In addition to his daughter Elizabeth, he is survived by three other daughters: Patricia Casimano of Mastic Beach, Pamela Walker of Islip and Geraldine Zoccali of Lindenhurst; sons James of Patchogue and John of Islip and many grandchildren.
A funeral Mass is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Church in East Islip. Burial will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.
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