Steven Robert Rutherford

Newport News Police Department — Newport News, VA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch January 12, 1994

Age 28

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 140 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 11

Incident

Police Officer Steven Rutherford was shot and killed while working undercover, disguised as a pizza delivery person, in anticipation of a robbery. That night, several juveniles robbed him at gunpoint at a condo complex on Thorncliff Drive. As he was complying with their demands to lie on the ground, his jacket rose up and exposed his gun, and one of the juveniles opened fire, striking him twice. Officer Rutherford got up and chased the juveniles approximately 200 yards before he collapsed as his partner fired from the delivery vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspects were arrested a short time later. The shooter pleaded guilty to capital murder to avoid the death penalty and was sentenced to two life terms plus eight years. Another juvenile was convicted of murder and sentenced to 70 years. A third was sentenced to 38 years. Officer Rutherford was a U.S Navy Reserve veteran and had previously served as an auxiliary officer for 17 months and had served as a full-time officer for approximately 6-1/2 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, mother, father, sister, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-F1B6A8F9
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Steven is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Rutherford gave the Newport News Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newport News community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Newport News Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Newport News, VA

Platform Identity nnpd.newportnews.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 12, 1994

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 28

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Steven Robert Rutherford served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer Steven Robert Rutherford 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In VA, 394 of 655 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.2% of this state's fallen. That is 60.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Newport News Police Department, 7 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.3% of this agency's fallen.

Newport News Police Department

of 12 officers

58.3% Felonious

VA — Statewide

394

of 655 officers

60.2% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious