Revere firefighter faces new charge for shoplifting

REVERE – Authorities say Revere Firefighter Kevin M. Doherty, 30, was arraigned this week on his second shoplifting charge this year.A spokesman for the Essex County District Attorney?s office confirmed that Doherty, son of Revere Fire Chief Eugene Doherty, was arrested last week in Danvers for allegedly trying to conceal and steal $81.51 worth of merchandise from Target at Liberty Tree Mall.According to a police report obtained at Salem District Court, Doherty, of 22 Wilber Ave., Saugus, was arrested at 4:03 p.m. Dec. 21, after he allegedly attempted to steal a GoPro accessory and can of Red Bull energy drink.Police say Target store security “observed Kevin select a Red Bull Energy Drink and conceal it inside of his jacket pocket. Kevin then proceeded back to the electronics section of the store where he again took the GoPro Bacpac (sic) from its location on the shelf and proceeded to an aisle in the school supplies section of the store.?In this section, Kevin was observed removing the spider wrap from the GoPro Bacpac, discarding the wrapping inside of a binder, and then concealing the GoPro Bacpac inside of his jacket pocket as well. Kevin then made his way to the front of the store, passing all possible points of purchase without making any attempt to render payment for the items he concealed inside of his jacket.”Essex District Attorney spokesman Steve O?Connell said Kevin Doherty was arraigned Monday in Salem District Court. He was released on personal recognizance and is scheduled to return to court Feb. 11, 2014 for a pretrial hearing, O?Connell said.Kevin Doherty, a fourth-year firefighter who earned $79,576.62 in 2011, according to city records, was arrested Jan. 12, 2013 by Lynn police for allegedly attempting to steal a television and stereo equipment from Walmart in Lynn.Following that arrest, Chief Doherty recused himself from deciding disciplinary action against his son, deferring to a deputy chief and to Mayor Daniel Rizzo. But Chief Doherty told The Item at that time that disciplinary action is typically determined after the disposition of a criminal charge involving off-duty personnel.Firefighter Doherty was allowed to remain on the job while the first case was pending. Information was not available Friday on the status of the earlier case or if any action was taken against Firefighter Doherty stemming from it.Chief Doherty did not immediately return a message seeking comment on Friday, and a Revere Fire Department officer would not comment as to Kevin Doherty?s status with the department.Mayor Daniel Rizzo said Friday afternoon that he had not been fully informed on the latest case against Firefighter Doherty, but said he had “heard rumblings that there may be a charge.”?In all honesty I don?t know enough about it,” Rizzo said. “I haven?t had any discussion as of yet with the Chief or with Kevin. But I?ll go on the assumption that it is our Firefighter Kevin Doherty.?This is something I?m going to have to sit down with the chief about and figure out, number one, why these incidents are occurring, and also, what course of action needs to be taken to address the problem.”Rizzo said he would “not rule out any option” for disciplinary action, but emphasized that he has full confidence in and respect for Chief Doherty.?He has been our fire chief for a long time and he is one of the finest chiefs in the commonwealth,” Rizzo said. “He?ll treat this issue with the same level of integrity that he handles every other part of his job.”