Deputy Sheriff Kevin Joseph Tarsia, Broome County Sheriff's Office, New York

Deputy Sheriff Kevin Joseph Tarsia

Broome County Sheriff's Office, New York

End of Watch Thursday, July 4, 2002

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Kevin Joseph Tarsia

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. He is survived by his parents, three brothers, two sisters, nieces, and nephews.

Bio

Age 36
Tour 13 years
Badge 143

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Sentenced to life

burglary, patrol

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Heavenly Father, I come before You today grieved in heart over the divisions in our country; the United States of America. I grieve for every life lost to violence, regardless of color or creed. And I especially grieve this day over the senseless deaths of America’s Peace Officers whose sworn duty is to protect us from harm. Please grant comfort and hope to their families. I know from the Holy Scriptures in Romans 13 that Peace Officers have a sacred task, to enforce laws that protect the innocent and punish the guilty. I pray that You will protect them as they serve us. Give them wisdom, discernment, and a deep desire to serve You. Please surround every Peace Officer in our nation, the United States of America, with battalions of warring angels to protect them from harm. I stand in the powerful and mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ against every work of Satan intended to inflict injury and death on our Protectors. May Satan’s power be thwarted, in Your mighty and holy name, and his plans exposed by Your Light. In the mighty and holy name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Redeemer, and the Mediator between us, Heavenly Father, in prayer, and by His authority, I pray! Amen.

Please find Encouragement, Comfort, Support, and Hope from God's Word:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
[Matthew 5:9 ESV];

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." [Psalm 23:4 ESV];

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."
[John 15:13 ESV];

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." [Matthew 5:4 ESV];

"And he [Jesus] said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." [Luke 23:43 ESV], and;

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." [John 3:16 ESV].

Minister Steven R. Closs, DDiv, MSBS, NACM
Ordained/Licensed Independent NACM Minister
The I'M PRAYING MINISTRY - "An Intercessory Prayer Ministry"
Member: Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers - USA