Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant John Cherry was stabbed to death by a mentally ill woman whom he was attempting to arrest on Schooner Trail. The woman had threatened to kill her mother and arrived at the home with a butcher knife. As other officers entered the kitchen, Sergeant Cherry approached the woman from behind in an attempt to disarm her with minimal force. The woman suddenly spun around and stabbed Sergeant Cherry underneath the right shoulder with the 13-inch blade. The other officers apprehended the woman. The suspect was charged with capital murder, but pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Sergeant Cherry was flown to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his wound. Sergeant Cherry had served with the Chesapeake Police Department for 11 years. He was survived by his wife, daughter, mother, sister, and brother. Sergeant Cherry had twice been named Officer of the Year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, mother, sister, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-6939C5EA- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Cherry gave the Chesapeake Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chesapeake community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Cherry.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant John Henry Cherry, Jr. is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Chesapeake Police Department, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Henry Cherry, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How John Henry Cherry, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Guilty of second-degree murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Henry Cherry, Jr. is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Henry Cherry, Jr. was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Chesapeake Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
