Daniel Linskey is a managing director in Kroll’s Security Risk Management practice, head of the Boston office, and a fellow at the Kroll Institute. As the former Superintendent-in-Chief of the Boston Police Department (BPD) and a 27-year veteran of the force, Dan provided strong leadership through some of the most tragic and contentious events in the city’s history, including the Boston Marathon bombings and the Occupy Movement.
Dan serves clients in diverse industries with uncommon experience in investigations, crisis response, and risk management, as well as personal, physical, and operational security strategies. Widely respected for his knowledge of the complexities inherent in law enforcement and homeland security, Dan has also consulted with numerous national and international government agencies on a broad range of challenges, including large-scale event management, crisis leadership, and preparedness and community engagement strategies.
During his long career in law enforcement, Dan developed a strong commitment to translating the lessons learned from large-scale events, crises, and tragedies throughout the country into training and policies aimed at avoiding the mistakes of the past while also replicating successful strategies. For example, Dan contributed to a report produced by the firm of Edward Davis, LLC that reviewed a large-scale disorder event at the University of Massachusetts, and presented a set of recommendations to prevent future occurrences.
Upon retiring from the Boston Police Department prior to joining Kroll, Dan founded the Linskey Group. In this role, he provided clients with security, law enforcement, and emergency management services, including dignitary protection, cyber security, and confidential investigations, as well as incident reviews and training exercises designed to prepare agencies and facilities for crisis.
After joining the BPD in 1986, Dan rose through the ranks before being promoted to Superintendent-in-Chief, the department’s highest sworn member. In this role, he managed the day-to-day operations of a 3,000-person department with a budget of over $300 million while overseeing a 30% reduction in major crimes over seven years.
While serving as Superintendent-in-Chief, Dan was also the Jurisdictional Point of Contact for the City of Boston, working with the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management to develop, implement, and oversee a regional homeland security strategy addressing all hazards.
Professional Experience
- Dan was part of a team selected by the U.S. Department of Justice through the Police Foundation to respond to Ferguson, Missouri following an officer-involved shooting to assist the St. Louis County Police Department in their collaborative reform project.
- As the Incident Commander for the Boston Marathon, Dan oversaw the response to the bombings as well as the subsequent investigation, which was jointly conducted by the FBI, BPD, and Massachusetts State Police. He was the first commander on scene during the April 19 shootout in Watertown, Massachusetts that saw terrorists exchanging gunfire and throwing bombs at responding officers.
- Under Dan’s leadership, the BPD’s handling of the Occupy Movement in 2011 has been lauded as one of the best-managed responses to the protests of any city in the country.
- As Superintendent-in-Chief, Dan implemented innovative technology to fight crime while also improving community engagement, such as the first-in-the-nation Text-A-Tip and a $19 million multi-department computer-aided dispatch and records management system.
- While assigned to the Bureau of Field Services, Dan oversaw the successful planning and execution of hundreds of high-profile special events, including seven world championship contests/series for major league sports (i.e., Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Hockey League, and National Basketball Association), along with numerous large-scale events like the annual Boston Marathon and Caribbean Festival.
- As a certified hostage negotiator for critical incidents, Dan was involved in more than 50 successful critical incident operations.
Select Media Appearances, Presentations and Reports
- Dan is active in several professional organizations and is frequently asked to present at conferences and meetings on topics related to law enforcement and homeland security. He is also a prolific writer, whose insights and thought leadership are closely followed by law enforcement, security professionals, and civic leaders.
- On-air news analyst for local and national affiliates of Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN
- International Association of Chiefs of Police 2012 National Conference: “Boston Police Response to the Occupy Movement”
- Police Executive Research Forum report: “Managing Major Events: Best Practices from the Field” (contributor)
- Edwin Davis report: “University of Massachusetts and the Town of Amherst: A Safer Community through Partnership”
- Department of Justice Collaborative Reform Initiative: An Assessment of the St. Louis County Police Department
- “Leadership Lessons Learned from the Boston Marathon Bombing Attack”
- “Leading Before, During, and After the Crisis”
Education and Certifications
- B.S., Curry College
- Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government: National Leadership Preparedness Initiative, Senior Executive – State/Local Government Module
- FBI National Academy, Quantico
- Boston Police Academy
Affiliations & Memberships
- FBI National Academy Associate
- International Association of Chiefs of Police
- International Association of Emergency Managers
- Massachusetts Major Cities Chiefs’ Association
- Police Executive Research Forum
Awards & Recognition
- Boston Police Medal of Honor
- State of Massachusetts George L. Hanna Medal of Honor
- Semper Fidelis Society, Semper Fi Marine of the Year Award
Active Assailant Preparedness Webcast with Security and Risk Management Experts
Webcast on proactively identifying, preparing for and responding to active assailant threats in the workplace, hosted by Kroll Security Risk Management Managing Directors and Crisp, a Kroll business.
