State Police Reveal Identity Of Trooper Whose Cruiser Was Stolen

SCITUATE, RI — The trooper whose cruiser was stolen last Thursday has been identified. State police said he is Trooper Michael J. Doherty, a 12-year veteran who is assigned to the uniform bureau. The trooper had a prisoner in the car when he pulled over on Route 146 to investigate an accident. Donald Morgan, 35, of Providence, managed to pull himself into the front seat and drive away. Morgan ditched the car in South Providence, and a manhunt followed. He was later found in Cumberland, but not before a chaotic morning that was punctuated by gunshots near the Providence Place mall. All 40 rounds were fired by either state or Providence police. When it was over, a 32-year-old man, Joseph Santos, was dead. His connection to the theft of the cruiser has yet to be established.

Col. Ann C. Assumpico, state police superintendent, said the investigation is ongoing into both incidents: the officer-involved shooting and the theft of the cruiser. On Tuesday, she also released the names of the troopers involved in the fatal shooting. Four officers fired their weapons, she said.

They are:

Detective Lieutenant Cynthia Trahan, a 20-year veteran, assigned to the Detective Bureau;

Corporal Scott R. Carlsten, a 20-year veteran, assigned to the Uniform Bureau;

Detective Corporal Herbert D. Tilson, a 12-year veteran, assigned to the Detective Bureau; and

Trooper Garrett S. Hassett, a 6-year veteran, assigned to the Uniform Bureau.

"The investigation showed that the four Troopers fired a total of 23 shots during the incident," state police said. "The four Troopers remain on administrative leave."

The next step, Assumpico said, will be to turn over the findings to the state Attorney General's office. She also noted the state police will review its "internal policies and protocols" in connection with the two incidents. Meanwhile, she has ordered partitions be installed between the cruisers' front and back seats as a safety precaution.

The state police also released its policies on use of force and police pursuits.

Photo Credit: Renee Schiavone