School District Welcomes Donahue as Assistant Police Chief

A veteran police officer with more than 19 years in law enforcement has been named assistant chief of the San Bernardino City Unified Police Department. Stephen Donahue, who worked his way up through the department’s ranks, was sworn in as assistant chief on Monday, June 1. Donahue has spent 10 years as a District Police sergeant in charge of training, security, and logistics. He was promoted to a position left vacant since December 2014 when then Lt. Joseph Paulino was promoted to Police Chief. “I’m looking forward to continuing our efforts to make the San Bernardino City Unified School District one of the safest places for students,” Donahue said. “Our community counts on us to keep children safe, and I take that responsibility very seriously.” Donahue joined the San Bernardino City Unified Police Department in 1996 and served as a patrol officer, program manager, and field-training officer until 2005, when he was promoted to sergeant. As the second-in-command, Donahue will be in charge of the department’s daily operations. “Steve brings solid leadership to the position,” said Paulino. “There is no doubt in my mind regarding his leadership abilities.” The SBCUSD Police Department has 28 sworn officers, 55 campus security officers, and more than 10 support staff members. The department is responsible for ensuring the safety of the District’s 53,000 students, as well as protecting District property.