Theodore Roosevelt Association honors officers in the 30th Annual Police Awards
When the World Trade Center came crashing down on September 11, 2001, the most alarming danger for a responder was, at the time, the horrors right in front of them at Ground Zero. Though the immediate attacks ended after the plane’s hit, the hazardous aftermath of being exposed to the debris, rubble, and jet fuel would linger on in New Yorkers for decades to come.
Nassau County Police Department Chief of Patrol Kevin G. Canavan was one of those valiant responders, having been assigned to the Sixth Precinct at the time, and in 2023 was diagnosed with cancer believed to be caused by exposure to the wreckage. He continues to serve his community whilst undergoing treatment and shows relentless dedication to Nassau County despite medical issues.
At the 30th Annual Theodore Roosevelt Police Awards at Sagamore Hill, Canavan was honored not only for his unwavering service but for his dedication to his duty despite his diagnosis. Canavan, alongside Detective Nicholas Guerrero of the Suffolk County Police Department, received the Theodore Roosevelt Police Award, an award dedicated to officers who have overcome major physical challenges and continue to persevere in their field, as Roosevelt did as President of the Board of Police Commissioners of New York City.
“Kevin started off in a different time and place, and through the years you rose through the ranks, but you also did something else,” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said. “You brought all kinds of innovations through academic learning that you did, extra training that you did, and every issue that you had in the police department you approached from a highly intellectual level.”
Canavan was accompanied by his family to honor his distinguished career, which began in 1985. Throughout his time serving, he’s been assigned to several commands, such as to the Aviation Bureau as a police officer pilot, where he oversaw the largest division within the department. He currently serves in The patrol division as chief of patrol
Most recently, Canavan is credited with his management of the recent Cricket World Cup matches held in Nassau and the ISIS threats that came along with the event. According to his coworkers, Canavan organized a strategy meeting after a day of disorder by calling a gathering from his hospital room, which everyone attended due to their dedication to him according to Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder.
“That’s the hero that’s in this room here today that we are here for, standing for him because of what he does for all of us,” said Ryder. “In his worst days, he’s thinking about us first. He’s putting the county first, he’s putting the residents first, and he’ll never fail on his men and women of the Nassau County Police Department.”
Friends, family, and dozens of officers from all over Long Island gathered to celebrate the recipients of the award on the lawn of Theodore Roosevelt’s historic home. The outdoor ceremony was commemorated with a helicopter fly-over and performances from the Nassau and Suffolk Police Pipe and Drum Band.
Guerrero, the Suffolk award recipient, was recognized for his perseverance despite being struck by a suspect’s car while on duty in 2014. The injuries Guerrero sustained involved traumatic brain injury, but after 54 weeks of intensive treatment, he fully returned to work full duty. The suspect, who had hit Guerrero with a stolen vehicle, was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The recipients and their families expressed their gratitude to the Nassau County Police Department and the Theodore Roosevelt Association for the honorable ceremony. Canavan’s son, Michael, shared remarks with the crowd on his father’s behalf.
“Our efforts are dedicated to the defense of our small piece of America. The police department, our motto, loyalty, integrity, fairness, and excellence,” Michael says. “The department has stood by me and my family throughout this mess, for that, Kevin truly has the most wonderful friends I’ve ever met.”
