Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Del Berry was shot and killed on the Navajo Reservation in Lupton, Arizona. He noticed approximately 20 people outside of a trading post and stopped to investigate. Unbeknownst to Deputy Berry, the group was looting the store. As he pulled into the parking lot, the group swarmed around his patrol car, and one of the men fired a shotgun into the vehicle, killing Deputy Berry. Deputy Berry's body was pulled from the vehicle, and five people, three adults, and two juvenile girls, then stole his patrol car and duty weapon. The subjects who stole the patrol car were arrested a short time later. The man, 23, who shot Deputy Berry was arrested in Phoenix one month later and charged with murder. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to an indeterminate term of 20 years. The subject was released in 2021. The large group was affiliated with the American Indian Movement. Deputy Berry had only served with the Apache County Sheriff's Office for two weeks and had previously served with the McKinley County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-65DB2862- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Berry gave the Apache County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Johns community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Berry.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Delbert L. Berry is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Apache County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Delbert L. Berry's cause is highlighted.
How Delbert L. Berry Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Delbert L. Berry is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Delbert L. Berry was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Apache County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
