Joe Kavanaugh (played by Kavan Smith) is a detective for the Old City Police Department. He arrested Vern Kovacs for the murders committed by Alexei. He seems unappreciative of Dr. Will Zimmerman's work, rejecting his theories in certain crime scenes. However, after Zimmerman leaves to join the Sanctuary Network, Kavanaugh occasionally finds himself asking Zimmerman's opinion with other unusual cases, and with time gains respect for Zimmerman's talents and beliefs.