Kathleen Garcia
Agency patch
Patrolwoman

Kathleen Garcia

Denver Police Department — Denver, CO
Felonious
End of Watch March 28, 1981
Age 24
Tour of Duty 1 mo
Badge 8040
The Vigil Panel 124 ›
Gender Female

Incident

Patrolwoman Kathleen Garcia was shot and killed following her shift in District One. Patrolwoman Garcia was sitting in her patrol car in front of her house when someone approached the driver's side door; after a struggle the assailant shot her in the head, severing her spinal cord. The suspect fled the scene as Patrolwoman Garcia tried to reach her home. She collapsed in the yard and was taken to a nearby hospital where she succumbed to her injuries later that day. Patrolwoman Garcia's service weapon was missing from the scene, and it is believed that the suspect shot her at close range. A neighbor was tried for her murder but was acquitted, and the case remains unsolved.

Survivors

Patrolwoman Garcia had served with the Denver Police Department for only six weeks and was survived by her mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-929A2371
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.
Patrolwoman Garcia served with the Denver Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Denver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolwoman Garcia.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Denver, Denver County, CO
Platform Identity dpd.denver.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 28, 1981
Tour of Duty 1 mo
Age 24
Badge Number 8040
Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Patrolwoman Kathleen Garcia 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 65.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Denver Police Department, 55 of 74 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 74.3% of this agency's fallen.

Denver Police Department
55
of 74 officers
74.3% Felonious
CO — Statewide
235
of 360 officers
65.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Kathleen Garcia's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Kathleen Garcia Compares

Age at Death
24
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Kathleen Garcia is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Kathleen Garcia was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909