| Sergeant John Cherry End of Watch September 27, 1982 |
Prior to becoming a police officer, John Henry Cherry was a
technician for the city of Norfolk.
John Cherry was appointed to the Chesapeake Police Department on
September 16, 1971. He was a member of the first session of the
Chesapeake Public Safety Academy. Sergeant Cherry was a native of
Washington D. C. before moving to Norfolk, Virginia and attended
Norview High School, graduating in 1958.
After serving in the Uniform Patrol Bureau, Officer Cherry was
transferred to Criminal Investigations as a detective. He handled
assignments in both the Criminal Investigations Unit and the Vice and
Narcotics Unit. In these capacities John Cherry distinguished himself
as a devoted and persistent officer and investigator.
On May 1, 1980, Detective Cherry was promoted to the rank of
Sergeant. He was assigned to the newly created Power Shift of the
Uniform Patrol Bureau.
It was in this capacity that on the night of September 27, 1982,
Sergeant Cherry responded with several other officers to the
Holly Cove subdivision to answer a domestic call regarding a
mentally disturbed woman. The woman allegedly had threatened
several members of her family.
Upon arrival at her home, Sergeant Cherry evaluated the situation
and directed several officers to the front of the residence while he
and another officer went to the rear. As the woman was confronted
by the police officers, she produced a large kitchen knife and
displayed it in an aggressive manner. As the officers approached
from the front, Sergeant Cherry slowly approached from the rear in
order to disarm the woman without the use of greater force and to
avoid serious injury to the troubled woman. It was at this moment that
the woman, without warning, suddenly turned and stabbed Sergeant
Cherry beneath his right shoulder. The officers moved quickly to
subdue the woman and call for medical assistance for Sergeant
Cherry.
He was flown to Norfolk General Hospital by air ambulance. They were
unable to save Sergeant Cherry, who died at 10:30 PM. He was 43
years old.
Sergeant Cherry received several commendations throughout his
career including 1982's "Outstanding Policeman of the Year" award
by the Great Bridge Jay-Cees which was the result of a vote taken
from his fellow officers.