MACHIAS, Maine — Washington County Sheriff Donnie Smith has promoted Cpl. Chris Donahue to chief deputy.
Donahue, the brother of former chief deputy Shawn Donahue, who died of a heart attack in May, has been a member of Smith’s staff just over a year. He joined the office as a patrol deputy in September 2013 and was promoted to corporal in May, in charge of the field training program. In announcing the appointment Thursday, Smith said it is effective Oct. 5.
Chris Donahue was a veteran of the Calais Police Department before joining the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. He began working on the Calais police force as a part-time patrolman in 1997 and became a full-time officer in 1999. He was promoted to sergeant in 2003 and to senior day sergeant in 2008.
Donahue, 46, who lives in Calais, has completed several law enforcement training and certification programs. He is a graduate of the municipal county basic police school, the Maine State Police basic patrol dog school and the state police narcotics detection school. He also is a certified field training officer and a certified firearms and urban rifle instructor.