[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 30, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E813]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING OFFICER MARYANN COLLURA OF THE FAIR LAWN POLICE DEPARTMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday April 29, 2003

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and work of 
Officer MaryAnn Collura of the Fair Lawn Police Department in Fair 
Lawn, New Jersey.
  Mr. Speaker, it pains me to report that on Thursday, April 17, 2003, 
at the age of 43, MaryAnn Collura was killed in the line of duty. 
Officer Collura is only the fifth female to be killed while serving as 
a police officer in the State of New Jersey. Her loss has sent 
shockwaves through the members of her department, the people of Fair 
Lawn, and the entire State of New Jersey.
  MaryAnn Collura was borne in New York City, the youngest daughter of 
Pasquale and Helen Collura. MaryAnn was a lifelong resident of the 
Borough of Fair Lawn, New Jersey. She lived in the same home on Morlot 
Avenue in Fair Lawn where she and her siblings had grown up. She 
attended the same church where she had been baptized as a baby and 
taken her first holy communion as a young girl. The streets that 
MaryAnn patrolled each day as a police officer were the same streets 
that she ran as a child. Fair Lawn was home in every sense of the word.
  MaryAnn was known for her devotion to the community and to its 
people. So, it came as no surprise when MaryAnn decided to join the 
Fair Lawn Police Department in 1985, after serving for two years as a 
special officer. MaryAnn broke new ground in the department, becoming 
the first female officer in the town's history.
  It was her compassion for her neighbors, combined with her courage 
and skill as an officer, that made MaryAnn an inspiration to other 
young women and men who wished to dedicate their lives to becoming 
officers of the peace. MaryAnn cared about the details of her 
community. She went as far as to initiate a program for children to 
carry glow sticks on Halloween to make them more visible to cars. It 
goes without saying that MaryAnn was well liked and well respected, 
both by the members of her community and by her fellow police officers. 
But more importantly, during her eighteen years on the force, MaryAnn 
made a difference.
  Although I am not the Representative in Congress for the community of 
Fair Lawn, the loss of Officer Collura is one that hits particularly 
close to home. MaryAnn Collura was the aunt of my longtime staff member 
and campaign manager, Scott Snyder. To Scott, I would like to take this 
opportunity to say that the thoughts and prayers of the entire Pallone 
family and the Pallone staff are with you and your family in your time 
of loss.
  Mr. Speaker, it is at these times that we are reminded of the 
sacrifice that police officers and their families make in the name of 
community service. To a police officer, each call presents dangers and 
threats that we cannot begin to imagine. To the outside world, a police 
officer's uniform represents unwavering and selfless dedication to the 
protection of our community and the defense and enforcement of our 
nation's laws. This is something that all police officers understand, 
and something MaryAnn died upholding.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me in honoring the life 
and work of Officer MaryAnn Collura. I urge my colleagues to take a 
moment and recognize the bravery and selflessness of all of our 
nation's police officers, and all of our heroes in uniform.

  To MaryAnn's family; her mother, Helen; her siblings Paul, Patricia, 
and Linda; and to Scott and his entire family--please know that 
MaryAnn's commitment and sacrifice will never be forgotten by the 
people of Fair Lawn, the State of New Jersey or by the Congress of the 
United States.

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