Incident
Trooper Kavula was struck and killed by a tractor trailer while directing traffic at an accident scene outside of Toll #13 in Elizabeth. He was struck by the trailer or a tractor trailer as it made a turn. Another truck driver who witnessed the accident jumped into Trooper Kavula's patrol car and stopped the suspect a short distance away. The 43-year-old man was found to be under the influence of drugs at the time. He was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, death by vehicle, and several other traffic charges. Trooper Kavula had served with the agency for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and young daughter.
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.
Trooper Kavula gave the New Jersey State Police 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Jersey. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Kavula.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
New Jersey State Police has lost 84 officers; 14 of them killed feloniously.
Thomas is one of 264 officers killed feloniously in NJ, 40.8% of the 647 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1968, 1 officer at New Jersey State Police was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1968, 2 officers in NJ were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 101 years on record. The heaviest was 2001, with 39.
In 1968, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1968, 91 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 73rd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Thomas was 26. Of the 14 killed feloniously at New Jersey State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 26 and 34.8; the middle age was 29.5. Thomas had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 3.6 years.
Thomas was 26. Of the 247 killed feloniously in NJ whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 38. Thomas had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
Thomas was 26. 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. Thomas had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Thomas was 26. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Thomas had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 7.1% of these deaths at New Jersey State Police; December holds the most, 28.6%. Thursdays: 14.3%.
September holds 23.9% of these deaths in NJ, more than any other month. Thursdays: 13.3%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 16.7% of all 84 deaths at New Jersey State Police, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 14.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 40.8% of all 647 deaths in NJ, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 6.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.4% of these deaths.
His people
New Jersey State Police has 84 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.
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William H. Marshall
Dec 12, 1923
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Robert E. Coyle
Dec 18, 1924
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Charles E. Ullrich
Feb 17, 1926
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Herman Gloor, Jr.
May 9, 1926
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Walter Arrowsmith
Aug 5, 1926
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Joseph A. Smith
Aug 4, 1927
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David Z. Ernst
Aug 4, 1927
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Peter Gladys
Dec 28, 1928
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John Madden
Mar 3, 1929
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John D. Divers
May 2, 1930
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Peter W. Ignatz
Mar 4, 1931
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Leonard P. McCandless
Jun 28, 1931
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Michael J. Beylon
Feb 22, 1932
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John Ressler
May 1, 1932
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James R. Herbert
Jul 9, 1932
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James Scotland
Feb 19, 1935
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Warren G. Yenser
Nov 9, 1935
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Joseph Perry
Jun 9, 1937
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Matthew Francis McManus
Feb 28, 1938
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Vincent C. Vosbein
Jun 19, 1938
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Walter B. Otte
Jan 24, 1940
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John I. Gregerson
Apr 28, 1941
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William J. Doolan
Oct 23, 1944
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Francis R. O'Brien
Nov 27, 1944
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Cornelius A. O'Donnell
Jul 16, 1945
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Charles Kopf
Sep 27, 1948
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Walter R. Gawryla
Apr 21, 1950
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Emil J. Bock
May 26, 1951
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Stanley A. Conn, Jr.
Aug 27, 1951
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Joseph C. Walter
Sep 7, 1952
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Frank A. Trainor
Aug 3, 1953
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John Anderson
Nov 1, 1955
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George Richard Dancy
May 28, 1956
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Finley Carl Fuchs
Dec 19, 1957
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Ronald E. Gray
Dec 1, 1958
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Hilary Welenc
Nov 20, 1959
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John W. Staas
Dec 2, 1961
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Raymond P. Fiola
Feb 19, 1962
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Arthur J. Abagnale, Jr.
Jun 11, 1962
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Joseph Paul DeFrino
Jun 11, 1962
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Milan Simcak
Jun 11, 1962
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Anthony Lukis, Jr.
May 4, 1966
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Thomas William Kavula
Sep 19, 1968
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Robert John Prato
Dec 2, 1969
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Russell John Moesta
Nov 19, 1970
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Marienus J. Segeren
Jul 25, 1971
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Robert Joseph Merenda
Nov 29, 1971
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Werner Foerster
May 2, 1973
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Thomas Atkins Dawson
Aug 13, 1973
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Philip Joseph Lamonaco
Dec 21, 1981
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John P. McCarthy
Sep 25, 1982
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Lester Amos Pagano
Jul 19, 1983
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Edward R. Errickson
Jan 25, 1984
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Carlos M. Negron
May 7, 1984
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William L. Carroll, Jr.
Jul 12, 1984
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Albert John Mallen Sr.
Aug 28, 1985
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Theodore Moos
Feb 27, 1987
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Thomas J. Hanratty
Apr 2, 1992
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Marvin R. McCloud
Jun 6, 1995
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Francis J. Bellaran
May 23, 1996
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Scott M. Gonzalez
Oct 24, 1997
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Christopher Scott Scales
Dec 3, 2002
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Bertram Zimmerman, III
Feb 5, 2004
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Marc Kenneth Castellano
Jun 6, 2010
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Anthony Robert Fotiou
Mar 28, 2011
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James G. Hoopes, III
Sep 12, 2012
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Anthony A. Raspa
May 30, 2015
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Eli M. McCarson
Dec 17, 2015
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Sean Eamonn Cullen
Mar 8, 2016
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Frankie Lamar Williams
Dec 5, 2016
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William George Fearon
Dec 28, 2016
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Paul Brown
Nov 5, 2017
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Martin J. Walsh IV
Jan 5, 2018
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Robert Emmet Nagle
Nov 26, 2018
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Bryan U. McCoy
Apr 6, 2019
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Richard E. Tesauro
Oct 12, 2019
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Matthew D. Razukas
Jul 27, 2021
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James J. Puhalski
Jun 5, 2022
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Gerald T. Barbato
Jan 16, 2023
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Peter Bruncati
Jun 2, 2023
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Marcellus E. Bethea
May 5, 2024
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Steven C. Tiboni
Dec 5, 2024
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Jeffrey A. Burke
Dec 31, 2024
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Lee E. Hendrickson
Mar 7, 2025
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 59-W
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