Thomas Kevin Danaher

West Point, 1975

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Ryan Danaher on August 15, 2004:

It has been over two years since my dad Kevin has been gone and myself, along with many others, still miss him just as much as the day he died. After graduating from West Point in 1975 my father spent five years in the Army and was received an honorable discharge as a Major. He was an Executive Officer in the Armored Cavalry Squadron, a Personel Management Officer at the Division level at the rank of Captain, and a Unit Platoon Leader/Executive Officer of an Armor Company in Korea. He recieved the Meritorious Service Medal and was Airborne qualified. Kevin joined the Tucson, Arizona Police Department in July of 1980. He rose to the rank of Captain during his honorable service. Throughout that time he became the first member of TPD to be a SWAT Officer, Sergeant, and Commander. He established a Mobile Field Force Training standard to handle Civil Disturbances that has been adopted by every major agency in Southern Arizona. He recieved 3 Medals of Merit for work on the SWAT Team, the geo-based policing program, and establshing the Mobile Field force, as well as recieving a Medal of Service. He published a total of five articles in two magazines, POLICE and The Tactical Edge. He appeared on ABC News 20/20 Downtown which aired June 22, 2000 with 13.5 Million viewers talking about riots. He also appeared in the movie Boys on the Side. He was also Co-Chairman of board for the American Red Cross Blood Services from Arizona. He coached youth soccer as well for several years and was an Admissions Assistant for the USMA. He was also a member of Catalina Foothills High Schools Football Touchdown Club. He passed away May 4th, 2002 after 22 1/2 Years of service for TPD. He dad a wife, Susan, a son Ryan who is now 18, and a daughter Gabrielle who is now 15. Please send me an email and share your story of my father if you knew him at Danaher376@hotmail.com or Danaher@email.arizona.edu. I love and miss you dad. -Ryan

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