Robert Donnelly entered law enforcement as a young man and built his career from the patrol level up. He eventually moved into investigations, becoming an experienced detective before advancing to lieutenant. His years working cases gave him a lasting respect for careful investigative work and an understanding of the pressures faced by the officers and detectives under his command. His established career progression is patrol officer to detective to lieutenant and ultimately chief.

In 2015, following the retirement of Chief Christopher Ryan Bennett, Donnelly was appointed Chief of Police. His promotion created the detective vacancy that would eventually be filled by Travis “Duke” Mantz. Donnelly quickly established himself as a practical, level-headed chief who understands both the operational needs of a police department and the expectations that come with policing a small community.

Donnelly trusts his officers to do their jobs and has little patience for ego or unnecessary bureaucracy. He maintains particularly strong confidence in Duke Mantz as an investigator and relies on Vincent Caruso to provide steady leadership within patrol. When difficult cases exceed the department's resources, Donnelly has no hesitation about seeking assistance from outside agencies. His leadership style remains consistent regardless of the situation: listen first, understand the problem, and then make the decision.