Agent John Kahl, Sr., a White male and Vietnam War Navy veteran, was killed in the line of duty on June 4, 1980. He had served with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office for 13 years. Officers were executing a search warrant at a residence in St. Mary Parish as part of an investigation into illegal drug activity when a suspect pushed the barrel of a .44 magnum revolver through a crack in the door and fired one shot that struck Agent Kahl in the head, killing him instantly. Other officers on the scene returned fire and the suspect was shot and killed.

Kahl was survived by his wife and two children. His service is commemorated by the John Kahl, Sr. Award of Excellence at the regional training academy and by the renaming of the Sheriff’s Gun Range as the John I. Kahl Training Center in 2020. If anyone has memories of Agent Kahl or information about the case, please share them.