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79R5486 MMS-D
By: Gattis H.R. No. 269
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Amy Lynn Donovan, a beloved wife and mother and
greatly valued member of the Austin Police Department, lost her
life in the line of duty on October 31, 2004, and the heartache felt
at her untimely passing has been experienced throughout the
community and the ranks of law enforcement officers across the
land; and
WHEREAS, A 2004 graduate of the Austin Police Academy,
Officer Donovan died in a tragic accident while working special
duty in East Austin; at the time of the incident, she was pursuing
on foot a man she had sought to question; and
WHEREAS, Amy Donovan's decision to join the police force took
many of her friends by surprise, for it was hard to imagine this
sensitive and beautiful woman, a business professional, in the
gritty and grueling domain of law enforcement; formerly an
investment broker in Manhattan, Officer Donovan had moved with her
family to Texas; after working initially as a day trader in Austin,
she left the corporate world to open a café in Salado and then a
restaurant in Georgetown; and
WHEREAS, In December 2003, Amy Donovan joined the 109th cadet
class of the Austin Police Department; it was soon evident that she
found the challenges and rewards of this new career deeply
satisfying, and she impressed her instructors and classmates with
her intense desire to excel; more than able to meet the academy's
rigorous physical requirements, utterly fearless, and gifted with a
remarkable degree of inner strength and common sense, she ranked in
the top 10 percent of her 78-member class when she graduated in June
2004; and
WHEREAS, Officer Donovan requested assignment to East
Austin; although a rookie, she demonstrated impressive skill as an
interviewer, instinctively knowing what line of questioning she
ought to pursue; in time, she surely would have fulfilled her
aspiration to achieve the rank of police detective; and
WHEREAS, The devoted wife of Terry Donovan, Officer Donovan
was also the proud mother of four treasured children; during her
journey on this earth, her warmth, kindness, and zest for life
brought infinite joy to her family and touched the hearts of a host
of friends; and
WHEREAS, After her passing, more than a thousand people,
including representatives from law enforcement and first responder
units from across the state, gathered at St. Helen's Catholic
Church in Georgetown to honor Amy Donovan, and her badge, No. 683,
was later officially retired; and
WHEREAS, Officer Donovan brought to her vocation qualities
that are among the most highly prized in law enforcement
personnel--decency, bravery, professionalism, and a steady resolve
in the face of known and potential danger; the thoughts and prayers
of countless citizens go out to her family, with profound gratitude
for her selfless dedication to the community and for her exemplary
service in its behalf; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas
Legislature hereby pay special tribute to the life of Amy Lynn
Donovan and extend deepest sympathy to the members of her family:
to her husband, Terry Donovan; to her children, Chris, Abigail,
Amanda, and Chase; and to her other relatives and many friends; and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Amy Lynn
Donovan.