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Joseph Michael Kievernagel
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Kievernagel and Deputy Sheriff Kevin Blount were killed in a helicopter crash while on aerial patrol.
A mayday was broadcast when the aircraft experienced a mechanical failure and onboard fire.
Deputy Kievernagel made an emergency landing on a hilly area near Hazel Avenue's bridge across the American River. When the Eurocopter-EC120 landed, the tail end broke off, causing the fuselage of the helicopter to roll down a hill. A third deputy, who was first on the list to become a co-pilot, was also in the helicopter and received life-threatening injuries.
Deputy Kievernagel had served with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department for 17 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, parents, and seven siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Kievernagel gave the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sacramento community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Kievernagel.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Sacramento County Sheriff's Office has lost 22 officers; 6 of them lost to accidents.
Joseph is one of 720 officers lost to accidents in CA, 39.2% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2005, 2 officers at Sacramento County Sheriff's Office were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 2005, 9 officers in CA were lost to accidents, the 15th heaviest of 128 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 14.
In 2005, 71 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 44th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2005, 87 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 43rd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Joseph was 36. Of the 6 lost to accidents at Sacramento County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 37.8 and 48.8; the middle age was 45.5. Joseph had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Joseph was 36. Of the 690 lost to accidents in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 42.8; the middle age was 35. Joseph had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Joseph was 36. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Joseph had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joseph was 36. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Joseph had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 33.3% of these deaths at Sacramento County Sheriff's Office; March holds the most, 33.3%. Wednesdays: 50%.
July holds 8.9% of these deaths in CA; August holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 15.4%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
July holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 27.3% of all 22 deaths at Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 39.2% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Sacramento County Sheriff's Office has 22 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.
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Joseph McKinney
Aug 15, 1850
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Charles J. Ogle
Mar 12, 1951
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William L. Littlejohn
Jun 3, 1955
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Roger L. Bauman
Dec 12, 1961
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Kenneth B. Royal
Jun 7, 1968
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Bruce Roger Verhoeven
Dec 4, 1973
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Stewart Porter Baird
Jun 13, 1976
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Christopher W. Boone
Oct 25, 1979
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Eugene N. Luther
Apr 25, 1980
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Richard Earl Deffner
Jan 21, 1988
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Sandra Lee Larson
Dec 8, 1998
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Joseph Michael Kievernagel
Jul 13, 2005
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Kevin Patrick Blount
Jul 13, 2005
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Jeffrey Vaughn Mitchell
Oct 27, 2006
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Vu Nguyen
Dec 19, 2007
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Paul William DeRouen
Mar 29, 2008
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Lawrence Wilhelm Canfield
Nov 12, 2008
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Danny Paul Oliver
Oct 24, 2014
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Robert Allan French
Aug 30, 2017
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Mark V. Stasyuk
Sep 17, 2018
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Adam Samuel Gibson
Jan 18, 2021
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Brian Dennis Moore
Jan 13, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 61-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
21 officers from Sacramento County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
