Roll of Honor
Rodney Fredderick Pocceschi
Incident
Police Officer Rodney Pocceschi was shot and killed while making a traffic stop in the 2100 block of Dam Neck Road at 3:24 am.
After the vehicle was stopped, the driver exited and opened fire, striking Officer Pocceschi. The suspect and Officer Pocceschi were fatally wounded in the ensuing exchange of gunfire. A juvenile who was returning from a fishing trip, observed Officer Pocceschi in the roadway and stopped to render assistance. He flagged down another officer who was responding to a robbery call. Officer Pocceschi was transported to Virginia Beach General Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds approximately 40 minutes later.
Officer Pocceschi had stopped the vehicle only minutes after a robbery call at a local restaurant. The vehicle's passenger and an employee of the restaurant that was robbed, were both arrested and charged in relation to the robbery. The suspect who shot Officer Pocceschi was a six time convicted felon and was wanted for assaulting another police officer.
Officer Pocceschi had served with the Virginia Beach Police Department for four years and was assigned to the Special Operations Units. He had previously served with the Bloomsburg University Police Department in Pennsylvania.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and 9-month-old son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-BB6792F8- 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.
Police Officer Pocceschi gave the Virginia Beach Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Virginia Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Pocceschi.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Rodney Fredderick Pocceschi 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 Virginia Beach Police Department, 6 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Rodney Fredderick Pocceschi's cause is highlighted.
How Rodney Fredderick Pocceschi Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Rodney Fredderick Pocceschi is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Rodney Fredderick Pocceschi was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Virginia Beach Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
