Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Berchman White was shot and killed in Portsmouth while he and his sergeant transported a prisoner from the South Norfolk Trial Justice Court to the Norfolk County Jail. They were driving on King Street, near Water Street, and approaching the Norfolk County Jail when the prisoner reached from the back seat, grabbed the sergeant's service pistol, and then shot Officer White in the head. The subject then committed suicide with the pistol. The man had just been convicted of escaping from jail and sentenced to six additional months. He murdered Officer White as they returned him to jail to service the sentence. Officer White had served with the South Norfolk Police Department for 18 months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-08F66CAA- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Police Officer White gave the South Norfolk Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Chesapeake community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer White.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Berchman Loraine White 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 97,756 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 South Norfolk Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Berchman Loraine White's cause is highlighted.
How Berchman Loraine White Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Berchman Loraine White is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Berchman Loraine White was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from South Norfolk Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
