Craig Chamberlain Cause of Death: Former Deputy Died of Heart Disease, Fentanyl Suspected

Former Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Craig Chamberlain, who served the community for 25 years, passed away unexpectedly on April 30, 2023. His daughters shared this sad news via a GoFundMe post, where they called him their “best friend” and said his death was “unforeseen”. According to the medical examiner’s office, Chamberlain’s cause of death was “Hypertensive cardiovascular disease with atrial fibrillation”, or heart disease. However, court documents revealed that fentanyl may have been a factor in his death, as he reportedly took half a fentanyl pill given to him by a friend.

A Homegrown Kid Who Loved His Community

Craig Chamberlain was born and raised in Spokane Valley, where he studied BA in economics from the University of Puget Sound with a football scholarship. He started his law enforcement career with Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, and then transferred to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, where he worked for 25 years. He was known for his segment on the news called “Ask Deputy Craig”, where he engaged with people to uplift the public and educate them about crime prevention and solutions. He also gave interviews to news channels and publications, and was a spokesperson and a marketer for SERVPRO of Spokane County, a company that deals with the restoration of damage caused by mold, water, and fire.

A Controversial End to His Law Enforcement Career

In February 2022, Chamberlain decided to run for Sheriff, but had to back out after receiving backlash. Former Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich fired him after investigating him for misconduct, accusing him of using his position to promote his business and political interests. Chamberlain claimed that this firing had a political aspect, as Knezovich did not want him to become Sheriff. This ended his years-long law enforcement career, and he was positive about starting something new.

A Mysterious Death That Shook His Family and Friends

On April 30, 2023, Chamberlain’s daughters announced his death on a GoFundMe page, where they asked for donations to cover his funeral expenses. They did not disclose the details of his death, only saying that it was unexpected and sudden. The medical examiner’s office later ruled his cause of death as heart disease, which is a common condition that affects millions of Americans. However, a request for a search warrant filed on May 3, 2023, showed that Chamberlain may have died after he reportedly took half a fentanyl pill given to him by a friend, who was also a former deputy. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that can cause respiratory depression and death in high doses. The friend, who was not named in the documents, told investigators that he gave Chamberlain the pill to help him with his back pain, and that he did not know it was fentanyl. He also said that he tried to revive Chamberlain with CPR and Narcan, a medication that reverses opioid overdose, but it was too late. The Army’s Criminal Investigation Division is conducting a probe into the circumstances of Chamberlain’s death, but no charges have been filed so far.

A Legacy of Service and Compassion

Chamberlain’s death has left a void in the hearts of his family, friends, and colleagues, who remember him as a homegrown kid who loved his community and served it with dedication and passion. He was a father of three daughters, who described him as their best friend and hero. He was also a friend of many, who praised his full-of-life personality and his willingness to help others. Jeff Humphery, a Spokane crime reporter who was his friend and covered crime stories with him, said: “He was invested in this community entirely. So [he was like], ‘How can I – Craig ‘Hollywood’ Chamberlain, help my community the most? I can do it with a badge and a gun, but I’m going to use TV cameras and microphones, and I’m going to school people on what’s causing crime, what are the roots of crime, what are the answers to our crime problems?’”. Chamberlain’s legacy of service and compassion will live on in the memories of those who knew him and loved him.

Doms Desk

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