In 1974, Deputy Donn Witt was assigned as patrol deputy at the Vista Station of the San Diego Sheriff’s Office. He contracted hepatitis when his skin was pierced by a contaminated hypodermic needle in the pocket of a prisoner he was searching. Deputy Witt could have taken a medical retirement following his diagnosis but he refused and remained on the job. He worked at his characteristic cluttered desk in the detective office at the Vista Station until just twenty days before he succumbed to his disease on September 25, 1983.

Commonly characterized by co-workers as a “dedicated cop,” Deputy Witt established a reputation as one whose routine job performance far exceeded the requirements of his assignments. As a detective, he was the driving force behind many criminal investigations in Vista and San Marcos. He received a Distinguished Service Award in 1980 for his work closing 150 burglaries and arresting eighteen suspects in a two-month period. In addition, Deputy Witt received five Exemplary Performance Reports and a plaque from the City of San Marcos for his service in that area.

Beyond his reputation as a top-notch law enforcement officer, Deputy Witt was famous for his endless repertoire of bad jokes, hero worship of John Wayne, and unselfish caring for others. His wife, RaeNell, said, “Donn could have retired, gone off and taken care of himself, but he wouldn’t have been happy. He enjoyed helping people. He thought if he didn’t care, no one would. It had to start with someone.”

A United States Army veteran, Deputy Donn Witt was survived by wife RaeNell and their children, Tracy and Troy.