Detective Kayla Maher

Detective Kayla Maher of Yonkers is loving, caring, and selfless - and it is her extraordinary bravery and heroism in the line of fire that makes her a Woman of Distinction.

Det. Mahar was born in the Bronx, one of four children, to Officer Susan Barry and Michael Maher. She attended Lincoln High School and Dominican College and spent each of her spring breaks with Habitat for Humanity, volunteering in underprivileged areas and helping those affected by natural disasters throughout the country. Upon graduation in 2013, she followed in her mother’s footsteps and became a police officer, joining the Yonkers Police Department in 2015, where she worked as a Patrol Officer in the Third Precinct.

On September 25, 2017, during her second year on the force, Det. Maher's life changed forever. She and her partner responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle parked outside a home in Yonkers. When she and the other officers approached the car, they were shot at, and Det. Maher was shot in the face. She was taken to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, where she eventually made a full recovery. Det. Maher kept her spirit and humor throughout the recovery process, determined to return to the Department as soon as she was cleared.

Det. Maher was promoted to Detective in 2018, and was named “Outstanding Law Enforcement Professional” by the Detectives Crime Clinic of Metropolitan New Jersey and New York. She was also awarded the 2018 Law and Order Front Line Award. Det. Maher is a member of the Fraternal Order of the Police and Police Emerald Society of Westchester.

Det. Maher continues to serve the residents and the City of Yonkers with a bright smile, a huge heart and a fierce determination, and we are grateful for her service and commitment.