Patrolman Michael J. Kavanagh, Nassau County Police Department, New York

Patrolman Michael J. Kavanagh

Nassau County Police Department, New York

End of Watch Sunday, May 29, 1977

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Michael J. Kavanagh

Patrolman Michael Kavanagh was struck and killed by a vehicle fleeing officers on the Southern State Parkway.

The subject was traveling east in the westbound lanes of the Southern State Parkway, attempting to elude police. Patrolman Kavanagh was diverting traffic at Newbridge Road when the suspect vehicle struck him.

Patrolman Kavanagh had served with the Nassau County Police Department for ten years. He was survived by his wife and three children.

He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Valor and Purple Heart for his actions.

Bio

Age 37
Tour 10 years
Badge 1300

Incident Details

Cause Vehicular assault
Weapon Automobile
Offender Apprehended

vehicle pursuit, EDP

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IT WAS MY PRIVLEDGE TO BE ASSIGNED TO THE SAME SQUAD, SQD 14 IN THE FIRST PCT. WITH MIKE KAVANAUGH FOR SEVERAL YEARS. MIKE WAS A COP'S COP WHO WAS AN OLD SCHOOL VETERAN, LOOKED UP TO AND INFLUENCED POSITIVELY BY THE NEW COPS HE WILLINGLY HELPED ALONG THE WAY. HE WAS INTENTIONALLY RUN DOWN BY A COWARD WHO WAS BEING PERSUED BY THE FIFTH PCT., WHO WAS FLEEING E/B IN THE W/B LANE OF THE SOUTHERN STATE PKWY. MIKE WAS HEROICALLY ATTEMPTING TO WARN W/B MOTORISTS TO MOVE OVER TO AVOID A HIGH SPEED HEAD- ON COLLISION. AN OFF DUTY NYPD WITNESS OBSERVED THE MURDERER LEAVE THE TRAVEL PORTION OF THE ROADWAY, AND INTENTIONALLY GO ONTO THE SHOULDER AND STRIKE PO KAVANAUGH, WHO HAD IS BACK TURNED AS HE FRANTICALLY WAS WAVING THE CARS TO MOVE OVER. RIP MIKE, YOU WERE TAKEN FROM US AND LEFT A TREMENDUS VOID.

Lt. James Bresnahan
NCPD

May 31, 2023