Steven Robert Rutherford

Newport News Police Department — Newport News, VA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 12, 1994

Age 28

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 140 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice 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: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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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

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; .25 caliber

Offender robbery

Military Service

Steven Robert Rutherford served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer Steven Robert Rutherford 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 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

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious