Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Kavanaugh was shot and killed while he and another officer were serving a warrant on a man who had been terrorizing his neighbors during a drunk rampage. As Chief Kavanaugh entered the man's cabin he saw the man standing there with a shotgun. He ran from the cabin and was approximately 100 yards away when the man fired two shots, striking him in the back. Chief Kavanaugh succumbed to his wounds approximately 16 hours later. The suspect was shot and killed by the other officer on the scene. Chief Kavanaugh had been with the agency for eight months.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AK-C37D4175- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Chief of Police Kavanaugh served with the Anchorage Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Anchorage community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Kavanaugh.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Harry C. Kavanaugh is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In AK, 35 of 50 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70% of this state's fallen. That is 70 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Anchorage Police Department, 9 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 90% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Harry C. Kavanaugh's cause is highlighted.
How Harry C. Kavanaugh Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harry C. Kavanaugh is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Harry C. Kavanaugh was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Anchorage Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
