On March 9, 2021 the Sacramento Police Department received a complaint alleging Daniel Donahue was participating in inappropriate communication through a social media app with a 15-year-old female. Donahue is a former Sacramento Police Department Officer who had been employed at the department for approximately two years. Upon receiving this information, our department immediately launched a criminal and administrative investigation into these allegations.
The initial investigation determined that there was factual basis behind the allegations and Donahue was placed on administrative leave, which removed all his peace officer authority. SPD detectives conducted further investigation, which included serving several search warrants on his residence, his personal vehicle, workspace, and electronic devices. During the investigation, Donahue resigned.
Based on evidence uncovered during our investigation, the Sacramento Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for charges related to inappropriate communication with a minor. Today, Donahue was arrested and will be booked at the Sacramento County Main Jail. Detectives and the department’s Internal Affairs Division will continue follow-up on this investigation.
“The Sacramento Police Department does not and never will tolerate this criminal behavior from our officers,” said Sacramento Police Department Chief Daniel Hahn. “This behavior tarnishes the Sacramento Police Department badge and is absolutely not representative of the honorable work of our more than 1,000 members who are dedicated to serving our City. It is critical we hold people accountable when they victimize the most vulnerable members of our community – especially when they are in a position of authority. Though Donahue resigned, we have filed criminal charges against him. We will continue to work with the victim in this case and I am profoundly sorry for what this person did while being a member of our department.”
The investigation is still very active, and we believe that there may be additional victims. We also ask anyone who may be a victim of a crime involving Donahue to contact the Sacramento Police Department’s tip-line at (916) 277-1773. The department understands the seriousness of these allegations and is committed to updating the community as we are able.
CBS 13 coverage:
The family of the 15-year-old girl says she appears to have met the former cop, Daniel Donahue, through an app tied to Snapchat called “Hoop.”
The girl said she brought the conversation to her aunt’s attention when she found out Donahue was a police officer.
“He is a person we are supposed to trust,” said Kathy Benjamin, the girl’s aunt.
The family says that in the hundreds of texts they had seen, there were nude photos sent and asked for. Some of the nude photos were allegedly of Donahue in his police uniform.
One of the messages Donahue is accused of sending said: “I really wanna be with you.”
Donahue allegedly promised to meet the girl in Minnesota, saying “No one has to know.”
FOX40 coverage:
Kathy Benjamin, the girl’s aunt said she will soon be the legal guardian of the teen.
“He had this disgusting desire, ‘Did you see it? Did you see it? Tell me what you think right away. Did you see it?’ And then he sent another one and then another one; I think there may have been three or four that just came rolling in,” she said. “These pictures were gross. What was more gross was the excitement he had that this underage girl was looking at it.”
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