Deputy Resigns After Charges Of Drunken Driving On Duty

An Ada County sheriff’s deputy resigned after being charged with misdemeanor drunken driving while on duty in his patrol car.

Sgt. Tom Donahue was arrested Tuesday and released after posting $500 bond.

The charge stems from a Nov. 3 incident when co-workers smelled what they believed to be alcohol on Donahue’s breath. Sheriff’s Capt. Roy Holloway said a blood test showed Donahue’s blood-alcohol content exceeded the legal limit.

The case was forwarded to the Idaho attorney general’s office, which filed the misdemeanor charge.

Donahue, 45, previously was charged with drunken driving while operating a patrol car in January 1991. He pleaded guilty to inattentive driving that time, and was fined. He also was demoted one pay grade, suspended without pay for two weeks, placed on disciplinary review and required to undergo substance-abuse counseling.