From left, Stoughton Select Board member Joseph Mokrisky, Deputy Chief James O’Connor, Deputy Chief Nathan Derby, Police Chief Donna McNamara, Select Board Vice Chair Scott Carrara, and Select Board member Debra Roberts during a pinning ceremony for the new Deputy Chiefs on Wednesday, Nov. 6. (Photo courtesy Stoughton Police Department)
STOUGHTON — Chief Donna McNamara is pleased to share that Nathan Derby and James O’Connor have both been promoted to Deputy Chief and were sworn in during a pinning ceremony on Wednesday evening.
Derby was recently named the Deputy Chief of Operations and O’Connor as the Deputy Chief of Administration.
These promotions mark the first time in the Stoughton Police Department’s history that there have been two Deputy Chiefs simultaneously. The position of Deputy Chief has been vacant since late March when Deputy Chief Brian Holmes became the Police Chief in Kingston.
“I’m thrilled to announce the promotions of Deputy Chief Derby and Deputy Chief O’Connor,” Chief McNamara said. “These hardworking, dedicated, and dependable men have exemplified great character, integrity, and impeccable worth ethic for the Stoughton Police Department and the Town of Stoughton during their careers.”
Deputy Chief Nathan Derby
Derby has served with Stoughton Police since October 2015, when he began as a patrolman. In February 2018, Derby was promoted to sergeant and was assigned to the day shift. He was promoted to lieutenant in March 2024 and served as the shift commander of the midnight shift while overseeing all department training. Before his time in Stoughton, he was a patrolman with the Wellesley Police Department from September 2008 to October 2015. Before that, he served as a law enforcement division chief, counter-drug officer, and intelligence officer reserve with the U.S. Coast Guard.
Derby has been the supervisor of training for Stoughton Police for many years. He is an Instructor Trainer for the Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) in firearms. He has conducted training for Stoughton and other departments in Taser, firearms, Simunitions, de-escalation tactics, and Active Attack Integrated Response.
Derby was awarded a Letter of Merit in 2010, a Life-Saving Award in 2017 for CPR and AED deployment — which resuscitated an individual suffering from cardiac arrest — a Public Service Award in 2017, a Meritorious Unit Award in 2018, and a Meritorious Service Award in 2020.
Since 2016, Derby and his family have spearheaded a holiday toy drive that has provided thousands of toys and clothing for children each year. The drive first began as a personal family effort and has blossomed into a yearly department-wide initiative.
Deputy Chief James O’Connor
O’Connor has spent his entire career with the Stoughton Police Department. He served as a patrolman from October 1999 to June 2007, when he was promoted to detective. O’Connor spent the next 10 years as a detective until he was promoted to sergeant in August 2017 and moved to being a shift supervisor. In July 2020, O’Connor was assigned to oversee the Detective Bureau and manage all detectives and special investigations.
O’Connor served as the supervisor of the evidence room and managed, guided, and directed countless critical investigations that led to convictions.
O’Connor has served as the department’s Accreditation Manager at various times since 2018. He helped the department earn reaccreditation in 2019 before taking over the Detective Bureau a year later. While leading the detectives, O’Connor wore multiple hats and again managed the department’s reaccreditation in 2022 due to a sudden vacancy in the Accreditation Manager position. On multiple occasions, O’Connor’s hard work, skills, and dedication to the department were key elements in Stoughton Police attaining reaccreditation.
O’Connor has received numerous Commendations, including two Attendance Awards for not calling in sick, the Chief’s Medal in 2006, Officer of the Year in 2017, five Meritorious Unit Awards, three Meritorious Service Awards, a Life-Saving Award, and a Letter of Merit.
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Deputy Chief James O’Connor, left, and Deputy Chief Nathan Derby are sworn in during a pinning ceremony on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy Stoughton Police Department)
Deputy Chief James O’Connor, left, is pinned by his wife, Kelly, and Deputy Chief Nathan Derby is pinned by his wife, Jennifer, during a pinning ceremony on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy Stoughton Police Department)
Deputy Chief Nathan Derby with his wife, Jennifer, and daughters, Ella, Morgan, and Samantha, after a pinning ceremony on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy Stoughton Police Department)
Deputy Chief James O’Connor stands next to his daughters, Morgan and Makenzie, son, Patrick, and his in-laws, while his parents sit with his wife, Kelly, after a pinning ceremony on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy Stoughton Police Department)
Deputy Chief James O’Connor, center-left, with his wife, Kelly, and Deputy Chief Nathan Derby with his wife, Jennifer, during a pinning ceremony on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy Stoughton Police Department)