Donn G. Witt

San Diego County Sheriff's Department — San Diego, CA

Illness Veteran

End of Watch September 25, 1983

Age 35

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Badge 309

The Vigil Panel 127 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 10

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Donn Witt died after contracting hepatitis from a prisoner he was handling. Deputy Witt was a United States Army veteran and had served with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department for 11 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, son, parents, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-F99D56D6
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Donn. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Witt gave the San Diego County Sheriff's Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Diego community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department San Diego County Sheriff's Department

Location San Diego, CA

Platform Identity sdcso.sandiego.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 25, 1983

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 35

Badge Number 309

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

Military Service

Donn G. Witt served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Deputy Sheriff Donn G. Witt is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In CA, 75 of 1,837 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 4.1% of this state's fallen. That is 5 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.

At San Diego County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 11 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 18.2% of this agency's fallen.

San Diego County Sheriff's Department

of 11 officers

18.2% Illness

CA — Statewide

of 1,837 officers

4.1% Illness

Nationwide

2,974

of 32,508 officers

9.1% Illness