Three to be Honored with Hamden Elk's Community Service Awards

Three men who have contributed to make Hamden a better place will be honored this month at the Hamden Elk's Community Service Awards Dinner. 

The dinner, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. at the Elks Lodge on 175 School St., will honor Citizen of the Year Daniel M. Levy, Outstanding Police Officer Sgt. Michael Doherty and Outstanding Firefighter Kevin A. Martin. 

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR DANIEL M. LEVY is Principal of Hamden Middle School. Raised in Orange Connecticut, Dan graduated from Amity High School in 1987. Dan continued his education at Lehigh University, completing a BA in history in 1991 and the University of Connecticut, earning an MA in Political Science in 1992.

Dan began working for Galaxy Systems, Inc in New York City, a computer consulting company serving the banking and brokerage industry. Dan credits early mentors in business with teaching him the importance of hard work and attention to detail in a competitive and fast moving environment.

Following his business experience, Dan was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1994.  For three years he engaged in search and rescue, law enforcement, and environmental protection operations from the Port of New York to Canada. He wrote the seaborne security plan for the 50th anniversary of the United Nations, working closely with the U.S. Secret Service to ensure the safety of over 140 heads of state and government in one of the largest security operations the Coast Guard had engaged in at the time. 

Dan was a recipient of a Meritorious Team Commendation and two Coast Guard Achievement medals during his service and gained a wealth of experience and memories that have guided him throughout his subsequent career. 

Dan was hired by Hamden Public Schools in 1997, serving as an 8th grade Civics teacher for nine years including eight years as an academic team leader. Dan received a 6th year degree in Educational Leadership from Southern Connecticut State University and was appointed as the 8th grade Assistant Principal at Hamden Middle School, becoming Principal in 2011. 

Dan has worked to ensure that Hamden’s students appreciate the service and sacrifice of our veterans as a member of American Legion Post #88 and co-coordinator of Hamden’s annual Veterans Awareness Day for 13 years. He is the co-chair of the Hamden School Safety Committee and has been committed to improving Hamden Public Schools’ Emergency Operations Plan. He is also the coordinator of the School District Data Team, tasked with working collaboratively to define our educational goals and strategies across all schools.  He is proud of the accomplishments of Hamden Middle School’s staff and students and grateful for the opportunities offered to him by Hamden Public Schools and the greater Hamden community.

Dan resides in Clinton with his wife Holly and sons Connor and Nathan. In his free time he enjoys sailing and skiing.

OUTSTANDING FIREFIGHTER KEVIN A. MARTIN was raised in Hamden until high school when he and his family moved to New Haven. After high school, he resided in California for four years then traveled on to Austin, Texas where he obtained EMT certification in 1993. 

After six months, he returned to Connecticut for two years and worked as an ER technician at Yale-New Haven Hospital and as an EMT for American Medical Response of New Haven, while obtaining a Paramedic license at New Haven Sponsor Hospital in 1995. He then returned to Austin and worked for one year at Austin EMS. In 1997 Kevin left EMS for several years and worked in the music production business as a touring set carpenter and eventually became a stage manager for Sheryl Crow for five years. In 2003 he returned to New Haven AMR as a Paramedic and was hired by the Hamden Fire Department in March of 2005.

While on the Hamden Fire Department, Kevin has been stationed at Engine 2/Rescue 2 for three years and has been stationed at Station 4 on Squad 1/Rescue 1 since. He has been involved in several mountain rescues, was awarded a unit citation for a complex auto extrication and was awarded "the hero award" by the police and fire insurance association for a mountain rescue of two stranded teenagers on a dangerous rock face on Sleeping Giant. 

As Kevin would say, he’s been on quite a “winding road.” While touring with bands, he travelled the world. Since leaving that industry, he enjoys traveling to almost anywhere and has been to over 50 countries in the last 20 years. Mostly Asia, Europe, Central and South America. Outside of firefighting, Kevin enjoys mountain biking and snow boarding. His trips involve hiking and climbing. Incidentally, he is not related to last year’s award recipient Kevin P. Martin.

OUTSTANDING POLICE OFFICER SGT. MICHAEL DOHERTY is a 16-year veteran of the Hamden Police Department and currently assigned to the Patrol Division of the Field Services Bureau.

Sgt. Doherty grew up in Hamden and attended Hamden High School, where he played on the hockey team and graduated in 1980. Michael then moved to California and studied Forestry for three years before transferring to UConn. 

He worked for the New Haven County Sheriff's Department for eight years as a transport officer and detention center supervisor. In 1997, he joined the Hamden Police Department and served as a Patrolman for nine years, after which he was promoted to Detective. He worked in the Youth Division for one year before being promoted to Sergeant in 2007. 

He has served as the Supervisor of the Training Division for three years, becoming a Defensive Tactics and Police Baton instructor. He returned to the Patrol Division in 2010 as a patrol supervisor. 

Michael is an active member and supervisor of the Hamden Police Bicycle Patrol Unit and is the Field Training Officer Coordinator after being an FTO for years as a patrolman. He is a certified EMT and volunteers annually for the Law Enforcement Torch run for Special Olympics. 

During his career, Sergeant Doherty has received five Letters of Recognition, two Certificates of Commendation and 11 Certificates of Appreciation.

He has been married to wife Elizabeth for eighteen years and has two daughters Kaitlyn (age 16) and Lindsay (age 14).

The evening will include dinner, cash bar and awards ceremony. The public is welcome. Tickets $20 per person if purchased by Jan. 15 and $25 after that date. Open seating, but prepaid groups of 8 to 10 may reserve a table. Tickets are available at the Elks Lodge weekdays after 6:00 p.m. and weekends after 12 noon or by calling Phil Wilson at 203-248-6800 or Rich Wnek at 203-230-8208. Ticket purchases may be made by credit card by calling the Lodge at 203-248-2224 during those times. 

The annual awards event is sponsored by the Hamden Elks, serving the communities of Hamden and North Haven. Proceeds will support the Elks many youth and veterans projects and area charities.