EAST FALMOUTH — Recently retired Franklin County Sheriff Christopher J. Donelan is one of two Cape Cod police academy leaders who have been suspended, pending an investigation into “inappropriate conduct” between staff and student officers.

Donelan, director of the East Falmouth Police Academy, retired at the end of January following 14 years at the helm of the Franklin County Jail and House of Correction in Greenfield and said he planned to spend more time at his house on Cape Cod. Academy Coordinator Edward A. Dunne has also been suspended while the Massachusetts Police Training Committee investigates concerns raised by agencies with student officers attending the academy’s recruit office course.

“The MPTC is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, accountability and professionalism for our staff and student officers,” states a letter from the committee to police department heads. “Our mission is to provide a training environment that fosters respect, fairness and excellence in law enforcement, and we will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure our academies reflect these values.”

Donelan, 60, told the Greenfield Recorder on Thursday that he could not comment on the matter at this time, noting that the investigation is ongoing. Donelan said he had been working at the academy for four weeks and that the job was part-time.

According to the letter, the committee began the investigation on Feb. 26 to identify specific information related to alleged incidents of misconduct by academy staff and instructors, who were temporarily removed from their academy positions the following day and replaced with personnel from another MPTC academy to minimize any disruption to the student officers’ schedule. The letter states that the committee has started collecting and reviewing the necessary documentation for its investigation, but does not include specific information about the allegations.

“We appreciate your support and understanding as we navigate this challenging situation. The safety, well-being and ethical development of our recruits is our top priority,” the letter reads. “We are reinforcing our policies, training and oversight to ensure that the highest standards of professionalism and accountability are upheld.”

During his time in Franklin County, Donelan was credited with transforming the Franklin County Jail and House of Correction from a typical facility focused on incarceration to one with a trauma-informed treatment model.

“I think we’ve transformed the way people look at and approach corrections generally,” he said in early January, mentioning that he also fostered a relationship between the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement that didn’t exist before he took over. “Now, here we are 14 years later, the police and our deputies are all working side by side routinely, in a collaborative partnership that both sides really appreciate. And I think all the citizens of Franklin County benefit from that kind of collaboration.”

Donelan represented the 2nd Franklin District in the state House of Representatives seat before becoming sheriff. He also previously worked as a police officer in Orange and South Hadley, and was a probation officer in both Orange District Court and the Franklin County Community Corrections Center.

Gov. Maura Healey appointed Lori Streeter, the Franklin County Jail and House of Correction’s superintendent and special sheriff since 2014, as Donelan’s interim replacement until the 2026 election. Then, whoever wins that contest will serve for two years and can determine if they wish to run again in 2028, which will begin a new six-year term.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.