Long-time Napa County sheriff’s peace officer Jean Donaldson is moving up the ranks.

The 45-year-old veteran officer has been promoted to rank of captain, effective last Monday, third in order of command in the department, only out-ranked by Napa County Sheriff Doug Koford and Undersheriff Mike Loughran.

As captain, Donaldson will be in charge of the civil/coroner division of the department, the civil process arm of law enforcement.

 It includes serving civil papers such as retraining orders. He will be in charge of the court bailiffs, who are the deputies that provide court security. Donaldson will also head up the sheriff’s records department. The coroner’s division, including the county morgue where autopsies are performed also falls under his jurisdiction.

The two-decade department veteran is looking forward to his new assignment, but admits he has a special fondness for the investigations bureau.

“I was a detective for three years in investigation, then a sergeant and before my promotion, I was the lieutenant in charge of the unit,” he said.

Donaldson has seen a lot of changes in detective work.

“Criminal investigations have really changed over the years about how we go about catching the bad guy,” he said. “There has been so much new technology — just take DNA for example,” he said. “It’s a very interesting job. It’s a real challenge.”

Donaldson said the job can be rewarding, “especially when we solve a case. It brings a lot of satisfaction and it helps the victim and their family to heal.”

There may be other rewards with his new assignment.

“I enjoy working in the civil and coroner division,” he said. “I was able to get involved in the design of the morgue when we built the new sheriff’s department a few years ago. Before that, we did not have a county morgue. Autopsies were performed at a local mortuary.”

Loughran has high praise for Donaldson’s work ethics and his contributions over the years to the department.

“I have a lot of confidence in Jean. I have worked with him since he was hired. I have watched him grow and develop into an outstanding law enforcement officer. I have every confidence in his abilities to lead the department over the next decade,” Loughran said.

Loughran said Donaldson has paid his dues.

“He’s done it all ... patrol, investigations,  SWAT team, civil and he was the first sergeant to supervise animal control, when it was turned over to the sheriff’s department some years ago,” he said.

Sheriff Koford echoes Loughran’s praise.

“Jean has a long history of leadership with the sheriff’s department. He is highly respected by his peers and the community,” Koford said. “He and his family are very active in the community. He’s going to do a great job for the department and citizens we serve.”

It’s not all about law enforcement for Donaldson.

He is passionate when it comes to his involvement with the Sheriff’s Activity League. The popular program offers after-school fitness programs for Napa County kids , 8, to, 18.

Donaldson has coached the wrestling team for many years.

“It’s a very good feeling to work with these kids. SAL gives kids the opportunity to participate in good, healthy activities after school instead of roaming the streets,” he said. “I spend most of my off-duty time coaching kids in sports. I get just as much out of it as they do.”

Donaldson grew up in a law enforcement environment. His father was San Francisco cop.

Born in San Francisco, he and his family moved to Novato where Donaldson graduated from high school in 1981. After attending Santa Rosa Junior College, Donaldson transferred to California State University, Sacramento, earning  a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 1985. He worked a short time with the Santa Rosa Police before joining the Napa County Sheriff’s Department in 1988.

He and his wife have a son, 13, and a 15-year-old daughter.

Donaldson admits the  job can be trying at times and emotional.

“Someone has to do the  job and make the community a safe place to live. We are not trying to change the world, just make the community a better and safer place to work, play and raise a family.”