In the latest episode of The Courage to Lead Interview Series, I had the privilege of sitting down with my friend and recently retired Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty — a man whose 40 years in the NSW Police Force exemplify resilience, service, and the true measure of leadership.
From the very first moments of our conversation, one line from Danny stood out — a quote from Winston Churchill that shaped both his career and his life: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
Danny Doherty’s story is a testament to that.
Building a Life by Giving
Danny Doherty spent decades leading some of the most challenging, confronting, and high-profile investigations in NSW. As the long-serving Commander of the Homicide Squad, he navigated the darkest aspects of crime — organised crime murders, unsolved cold cases, tragedies that tore families apart — and did so with courage and deep empathy.
But what defines Danny is not just the cases he solved, but the people he lifted up. Time and again in our conversation, he returned to a single idea: leadership is about giving — giving trust, giving support, and giving yourself fully to those you lead.
“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.” — James Keller
Danny “Dasha” Doherty lived this every day. His flame never dimmed by lighting others’. He gave his people the courage to step up, to grow, to lead — and in turn, they gave that same light to grieving families, communities, and each other.
The Courage to Know When to Let Go
One of the most powerful moments we spoke about was Danny Doherty’s decision to retire while still at the top of his game. In policing — as in any demanding profession — it’s easy to cling on too long, too battered, too weary to truly give back to those who matter most: family. Danny knew when it was time to step away, to redirect his giving towards home, friendships, and to himself.
“Be strong when strong is your only choice.” — Bob Marley
After decades of giving strength to others, Danny found the courage to reserve some for himself — and to honour his family with his presence after decades of sacrifice.
Lessons from the Early Days
We spoke about where Danny Doherty’s own leadership roots lay — a childhood shaped by challenges at home, but balanced by the kindness of a teacher, Dennis Klein. Dennis saw leadership potential in a young Dasha and quietly fanned it to life — encouraging him to lead in sport, at school, and eventually in life.
That early lesson — that leadership is about seeing people’s potential, investing in them, walking beside them — would become the heart of how Danny led squads tackling society’s worst crimes. He never forgot the importance of trust — or the impact one person can make simply by believing in another.
The Human Side of Command
Throughout our chat, Danny Doherty spoke with raw honesty about the cost of police work. He shared the pain of leading through tragedy — losing a colleague to suicide, facing immense public pressure, absorbing the heartbreak of families. And yet, in his toughest moments, it was always his people who lifted him up — just as he had lifted them.
His final years were marked by some of the most challenging cases in recent memory, yet he and his squad found ways to keep solving, keep serving, and keep caring for one another.
His Message to Future Leaders
As we wrapped up, I asked Danny Doherty what three truths he’d pass on to anyone stepping up to lead:
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Be true to yourself — Authenticity builds trust. If you’re genuine, people know they can count on you.
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Be kind — Compassion and empathy are not weaknesses; they are a leader’s strongest tools.
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Build resilience — Take care of yourself so you can keep giving your strength to others.
Danny Doherty leaves behind an extraordinary legacy. But more importantly, he leaves behind countless leaders — colleagues, detectives, undercover operatives — whose candles were lit by his unwavering example.
His story reminds us that leadership is not about the badges we wear or the titles we hold — it’s about how many people we lift up along the way.
To Danny — thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your gift of leadership that will keep burning bright long after your final day on duty.
If this conversation inspired you, I invite you to reflect: whose candle are you lighting today?
— Allan Sicard