Veteran Sleepy Hollow police officer demoted following investigation into complaints 

According to a statement from Mayor Martin Rutyna, Stephen Dougherty will be demoted from lieutenant to administrative sergeant.

Maia Noah

Dec 4, 2023, 11:37 PM

Updated 375 days ago

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A veteran Sleepy Hollow police officer has been demoted following an investigation into numerous complaints within the police department. 
According to a statement from Mayor Martin Rutyna, Stephen Dougherty will be demoted from lieutenant to administrative sergeant. The agreement on this demotion was approved by the Village Board of Trustees at a meeting last week. 
Dougherty was under investigation for allegedly groping Joan Morrison, a colleague's wife, at a party in 2017. Morrison filed her complaint last May and appeared before the board last September. 
This is not the first time Dougherty has faced disciplinary action. He was also disciplined after he was reportedly caught by an on-duty department officer having sexual intercourse in a department vehicle with a female officer. 
In the statement released today, Mayor Rutyna said police chief Anthony Bueti will continue working actively with his department to move forward following this investigation.