Officer Mary Ann Collura - Fair Lawn Police Dept. - True Life Hero

Mary Ann Collura
- Apr. 17, 2003 -

(26313)

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Fair Lawn Police Department Agency Patch

Resided:	NJ, USA
Born:	Unk
Fallen:	Apr. 17, 2003
Race/Sex:	Caucasian Female / 43 yrs. of age
	Agency
Dept:	Fair Lawn Police Dept. NJ USA
Dept. Type:	Municipal/Police
Hero's Rank:	Officer
Sworn Date:	Unk
FBI Class:	Homicide - Gun
Weapon Class:	Firearm
Badge:	136
On The Job:	20 years

Bio: Not Available

Fatal Incident Summary

Offender:	No Info
Location:	NJ USA Thu. Apr. 17, 2003
Summary:	Officer Mary Ann Collura was shot and killed following a vehicle pursuit that ended in Fair Lawn at 2200 hours. An officer from the Clifton Police Department had spotted a vehicle speeding through Clifton, New Jersey, and attempted to stop the vehicle. The vehicle fled at a high rate of speed while the passengers threw items out of the vehicle's windows. The officer chased the vehicle through several towns and into Fair Lawn, where the car crashed on the front lawn of a church. Officer Collura arrived on the scene minutes later to assist the officers involved in the chase. One of the occupants of the vehicle got out of the car and began waving his hands as if to surrender, but then the driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot. The officer from the Clifton Police Department was able to tackle the suspect in the rear lot of the church. As he was reaching for his mace, the suspect drew a firearm from his pocket and opened fire, striking Officer Collura four times, killing her. The Clifton Officer drew his firearm, but before he could fire, the suspect shot him too, striking him twice, once in the leg and once in the arm. The suspect then stole Officer Collura's patrol car and fled. The Clifton Officer was able to empty his weapon at the fleeing car, but the suspect was not hit. Two suspects were apprehended the next day and charged with murder. The suspect who shot the two officers fled to Florida where he was shot and killed by deputies in Sumter County on April 20. In that incident, the suspect opened fire on a Hernando County deputy as the deputy walked passed his car. Deputies chased him into Sumter County during a running gun battle until he crashed his vehicle. He attempted to steal another car before trying to commit suicide by shooting himself in the jaw. He was then shot and killed by deputies when he pointed his weapon at them. Officer Collura had been employed with the Fair Lawn Police Department as a full time officer for 18 years, and had been a special officer for an additional two years. She was the agency's first female officer. She is survived by her mother, brother, and two sisters.
Source:	Website Click

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Tributes

Officer Maryann Collura of the Fair Lawn, NJ Police Dept. was shot and killed while attempting to assist Clifton NJ Police Officer Steven Farrell. Off. Farrell was in pursuit from his jurisdiction into Fair Lawn, where Off. Collura came to his assistance. While attempting to apprehend the suspects, gunfire broke out. Off. Collura was shot 4 times and was mortally wounded. Off. Farrell was shot twice, once in the arm, the other in the leg. He is in stable condition at St. Josephs Hospital and Medical Center in Paterson, NJ My heart goes out to these fallen heroes.

Cpl. B. Marvin . . . Jan. 23, 2001

Last Updated: May. 29, 2019

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