Lawrence police mourn officer Zachary Garcia-Kerns, 28, dies off duty

Lawrence police are grieving the loss of Officer Zachary Garcia-Kerns, 28, who died while off duty on April 3. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is handling the death investigation, and no foul play is suspected.

Garcia-Kerns had served the Lawrence community since October 2021, first with the KU Police Department and then with the Lawrence Police Department beginning in November 2023. In that time, he worked across two institutions closely tied to the University of Kansas and the broader Lawrence community, building his career in public safety before his death.

Lawrence Police Department public-information staff said in a statement, “Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and all who love him.” Laura McCabe, the department’s communications manager, said Garcia-Kerns died April 3 while off duty.

Support for his family has also begun to take shape in the law enforcement community. The Lawrence Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #2 has established a memorial fund for those who want to help. A separate report said Garcia-Kerns’ organ donation is expected to save about 75 people, adding a final act of service to a career already rooted in local public safety.

For Lawrence officers, the loss reaches beyond a single badge number. Garcia-Kerns served at both the KU Police Department and the Lawrence Police Department, two agencies that patrol the university and city spaces where thousands of Douglas County residents, students, and visitors move every day. His death has left both departments and the wider community mourning a young officer whose service ended far too soon.