George S. Dougherty | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Dougherty c. 1913 | |
| Born | April 5, 1865 Cressona, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Died | July 16, 1931 (aged 66) Flushing, Queens, New York, United States |
| Resting place | Cypress Hills Cemetery |
| Nationality | Irish-American |
| Occupation(s) | NYPD police official, Pinkerton detective and crime writer |
| Known for | Private detective for the Pinkerton Detective Agency from 1888–1911; served as Second Deputy Police Commissioner and headed of the NYPD Detectives Bureau from 1911–1913. |
| Parent(s) | Charles A. Dougherty and Ellen June |
| Relatives | Harry Dougherty, brother Arthur Dougherty, brother |
George Samuel Dougherty (April 5, 1865 – July 16, 1931) was an American law enforcement officer, private detective and writer. He was considered one of the leading detectives in the United States, first for the Pinkerton Detective Agency and then as a private investigator. Dougherty was responsible for the capture of many notorious criminals during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He also introduced the modern-day fingerprinting to the police force.
While serving as Second Deputy Police Commissioner and head of the NYPD Detectives Bureau, he is credited for his assistance in solving the 1912 murder of Herman Rosenthal which ultimately resulted in the conviction and execution of the Lenox Avenue Gang and NYPD police detective Lieutenant Charles Becker.