John "Jack" P. Kearns

One of Sacramento’s Finest, Sacramento Police Department, 1956 to 1992

A Sacramento native born to Patrick James Kearns, an immigrant from Galway, Ireland, and Ruth McDermott Kearns from a local Sacramento Irish family. Also predeceased by sister, Betty Kearns Soroka, and special niece Katie Lenihan, and other cousins. Jack lost his first wife and best friend Nancy Sharel Hunt Kearns in 2012.

He will be greatly missed by his most devoted advocate and loved wife Rosanne Coale Smith Kearns whom he met in 2012 and married in 2013, Irish cousin Pat McFarland, and especially his loving extended Romanian immigrant family of Daniel and Mihaela Tafta and children, Kylah, Kenneth, Kayden and Kenan, all who loved him dearly with compassion and care for many years.

Jack attended Sacred Heart, Christian Brothers High School and Sacramento City College. He proudly enlisted in USMC during the Korean War. Upon discharge in 1956, he joined the Sacramento Police Department following his father, Patrick. He had many family members in law enforcement: two aunts who were the first female matrons in SPD in the early 1900’s, his uncle Jim a warden at Folsom Prison and another uncle in NYPD.

During his years as patrolman and detective, he attended night school and graduated from CSUS with a B.A. and M.A. degree in Law Enforcement and Public Administration. Other professional certificates were achieved from different FBI programs, U.S. Dept. of Justice, and many more. He served our community for 36 years and the “Tough but Compassionate” Chief of Police in Sacramento from 1977 to 1992.

Under his fifteen-year leadership as Chief, he instigated a long list of legislation, like AB497 with legislator Lloyd Connelly to require a 15-day waiting period for gun purchases.

He was admired by many for his loyalty and allegiance to Sacramento Police Department and many today still call him a “cops cop”. Definition is “one who takes care of the women and men in the SPD as well as the Sacramento community with honor and integrity”.

Chief Kearns was a strong supporter of the Police Athletic League, he himself was an avid boxing fan and a boxing champ in the Marine Corps. The youth center at 3520 5^th Avenue was built in 1985 and named the John P. Kearns Youth Center.

He ran the 5-mile Crime Alert Run against many law enforcement agencies across the state at 52 years old.

His favorite activities were the infamous PIG BOWL, especially when the SPD Cops beat Robbie Waters’ Sheriff’s Dept.

He was very proud to be Sacramento’s Irishman of the Year and Grand Marshal of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, because he was a very proud true Irishman!

The City of Sacramento Public Safety Center, dedicated to Chiefs Deise (Fire) & Kearns (Police) on Freeport Blvd. was named after Chief Jack Kearns.  

After retirement, he lived in Bodega Bay for ten years and made his one and only hole in one there on the Bodega Harbour Links course. He loved it there and he and Rosanne visited many times staying there and playing golf together.

Many thanks go to his loving caregivers, Gloria Deniz and Siu Green and good friends Dick Zarzana and John Kane all very compassionate and faithful.

Jack leaves a legacy of great integrity, honesty and patriotism to his country and commitment to his friends, family, and community.

SO TREASURE HIM, LORD, IN YOUR PLACE OF REST, FOR HERE ON EARTH, HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST!

At Jack’s request, no services will be held.

Any remembrances can be sent to: Christian Brothers High School, Brothers Memorial Program, 4315 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Sacramento, CA., 95820