Former Mercer Co. Sheriff Kevin Larkin Dies At 73

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Kevin C. Larkin, who served as the 45th Sheriff of Mercer County from 2002 to 2010, has died. He was 73.

Current Mercer County Sheriff Jack Kemler announced Larkin's death, saying he was elected in 2002 and "served notably until 2010."

Larkin joined the Mercer County Sheriff's Office in 1987. He became detective sergeant in 1993 and was promoted to chief warrant officer in March 2000, according to Kemler's statement.

As sheriff, Larkin pioneered Project Lifesaver, a program that distributed free tracking bracelets to elderly residents with Alzheimer's and other cognitive disabilities, Kemler said. He also helped establish the Mercer County Police Academy, promoted the "Mercer's Most Wanted" initiative with local media outlets, emphasized K-9 patrols, and advocated for gun safety.

"He was dedicated to law enforcement and held a deep personal commitment to the community — a legacy that continues to inspire all he served," Kemler said.

Larkin resigned as sheriff on Oct. 31, 2010, more than a year before the end of his third term, citing health and family obligations in a letter to then-Gov. Chris Christie. Kemler, who was undersheriff at the time, became acting sheriff following Larkin's resignation.

Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello, who said she officiated Larkin's wedding to his wife Samantha, remembered him as "a kind and sincere man with a heart of gold" who "loved his family deeply and was a devoted father."

"I had the pleasure of serving alongside Kevin in County government and seeing firsthand how much he cared about his constituents and the community he served," Sollami Covello said.

The Mercer County Sheriff's Officers Association PBA Local #187 said Larkin died at his home. "Sheriff Larkin served as the 45th Sheriff of Mercer County from 2002–2010 and dedicated decades of service to the Sheriff's Office and Mercer County community," the union said in a statement, adding that funeral arrangements had not yet been announced.

The Trenton Municipal Democratic Committee also extended condolences to Larkin's family, crediting him with pioneering Project Lifesaver and establishing the Mercer County Police Academy during his tenure.

Larkin had been in law enforcement since 1981. He was first elected sheriff in 2002 and was re-elected twice by large margins before his 2010 resignation.

Funeral arrangements had not been announced as of this writing.

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