MACHIAS — The Washington County sheriff says his chief deputy has died.

Sheriff Donnie Smith says in a news release that 41-year-old Chief Deputy Shawn Donahue died Saturday of “natural causes.”

Smith did not elaborate on the circumstances of Donahue’s death but said it was unexpected and the sheriff’s office is “in a great shock and mourning.” The sheriff says Donahue was with his family when he died.

Donahue was a 19-year veteran of law enforcement, including a stint as Baileyville police chief.

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