Stephen M. Kovach
Agency patch
Patrolman

Stephen M. Kovach

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH
Felonious
End of Watch March 11, 1984
Age 31
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Badge 763
The Vigil Panel 128 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Stephen Kovach was shot and killed after he and his partner attempted to stop a hit-and-run driver just after midnight. Unbeknownst to the officers, the driver had just committed two armed robberies and was operating a stolen car. The driver attempted to flee but crashed his car at East 40th and Cedar Streets in Cleveland. As Patrolman Kovach's partner approached the vehicle, the driver jumped out and opened fire with a .38 caliber handgun, striking him in the chest between the panels on his vest. The partner returned fire, wounding the assailant. As Patrolman Kovach approached, the assailant continued to fire, striking him twice in the neck and killing him. The officer continued to fire from the ground, fatally wounding the assailant. Patrolman Kovach had served with the Cleveland Police Department for 7 years and was assigned to the Third District. He had served in law enforcement for a total of 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Kovach gave the Cleveland Division of Police 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Kovach.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH
Platform Identity cdpd.cuyahoga.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 11, 1984
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 31
Badge Number 763
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Stephen is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1984, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Stephen was 31. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Stephen had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Cleveland Division of Police has 119 officers remembered here, Stephen among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Stephen M. Kovach

Cleveland Division of Police · End of Watch March 11, 1984

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-W

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