Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Kevin Tarsia was shot and killed in Kirkwood, New York, at approximately 4:00 am when he encountered suspects from a burglary at a firearms store that had occurred in Great Bend, Pennsylvania.
Deputy Tarsia was patrolling Grange Hall Park, just above the New York - Pennsylvania border, when the incident occurred.
The suspects were transferring the guns they had stolen from one vehicle to another when they were approached by Deputy Tarsia. Two of the subjects opened fire on Deputy Tarsia, firing a total of 15 rounds at him. After killing Deputy Tarsia, the men stole his service weapon and several other items from his patrol car and fled.
All three subjects were captured three days later. Two were charged in New York with first-degree murder, and the third was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. All three were also charged with burglary in Pennsylvania. The two men who shot Deputy Tarsia were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
On June 6th, 2015, one of the men escaped from the Clinton Correctional Center along with a second convict who was serving time for murder. He remained at large for approximately three weeks until being shot and taken back into custody on June 28th, 2015, near the Canadian border following a massive manhunt. A second convict who had escaped with him was shot and killed several days prior.
Deputy Tarsia had served with the Broome County Sheriff's Office for 13 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his parents, three brothers, two sisters, nieces, and nephews.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-ADBEEBA5- 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.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Tarsia gave the Broome County Sheriff's Office 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Binghamton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Tarsia.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Kevin Joseph Tarsia is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Kevin Joseph Tarsia's cause is highlighted.
How Kevin Joseph Tarsia Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Kevin Joseph Tarsia is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Kevin Joseph Tarsia was killed by gun; unknown type.