[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 2 (Friday, January 6, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2-E3]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING FALLEN STANISLAUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CRIME SCENE 
                     INVESTIGATOR MARY ANN DONAHOU

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 6, 2012

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor fallen 
Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigator Mary Ann 
Donahou. CSI Donahou's end of watch came on December 30, 2011, while in 
the line of duty gathering evidence at a crime scene. While assisting a 
deputy, she was struck by a vehicle. Mary was deeply committed to her 
profession--one that she put her whole heart into. CSI Donahou wore her 
badge with pride, loved her job, and loved serving the community.
  Mary Ann was born on August 20, 1965, in Ceres, California, and she 
graduated from Downey High School in 1983. In December of 1999, Mary 
Ann was blessed with the love of her life, her son Jake. In 2002, she 
began her

[[Page E3]]

career at the Sheriff's Department as a legal clerk in the county jail. 
She was later promoted to Community Service Officer in 2005, followed 
by a 2007 promotion to Crime Scene Investigator. Mary Ann served the 
Sheriff's Office with honor and distinction.
  Mary Ann was the epitome of a public servant. She always strived for 
excellence and had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and self-
improvement in the field of forensics and crime scene investigation. 
She was a shining example of what an employee of the Sheriff's Office 
should be: competent and courageous, tenacious and tough, brave and 
dedicated, yet understanding and compassionate to those who needed a 
helping hand. Mary Ann was also an active community member; she was a 
den mother for the cub scouts, did local charity work, and loved 
supporting local sports organizations.
  Mary Ann received multiple commendations from peers, supervisors and 
citizens, including recognition for her forensic work leading to the 
arrest and conviction of those who victimize the innocent. In one of 
her many cases, Mary Ann was assisting the Robbery-Homicide Team in 
taking crime scene photographs for two different search warrant 
locations. She maintained a positive attitude despite the very detailed 
and complex case. Even after a long, hard day at work, she still took 
the time to talk to the neighborhood children who were curious about 
what she was doing. She showed them her equipment, how to look for 
latent fingerprint evidence, and told them all about Crime Scene 
Investigators. This is reflective of Mary's character and her dedicated 
service to the Sheriff's Office and the community.
  Mary Ann was a loving mother, sister, daughter, aunt, and cousin. Her 
smile lit up the room and her laughter was contagious. Her grace, 
beauty, friendship, humor, intelligence and compassion were all 
attributes that made her so endearing.
  Mary Ann is survived by her son Jake Lewis Hassler; her parents 
Janice and Robert Pence and Jack and Mary Donahou; her sisters Jennifer 
Horne, Melinda Donahou-Sneed, Lori Donahou, and Teresa Brockman; her 
loving companion Eugene Day; three nieces; four nephews; and six great-
nephews.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and remembering the 
outstanding contributions made to law enforcement by Stanislaus County 
Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigator Mary Ann Donahou. The life of 
Mary Ann serves as an example of excellence to those in our community, 
and her legacy will not be soon forgotten.

                          ____________________