Sergeant John Henry Cherry Jr. Chesapeake Police Department Virginia Monday, September 27, 1982  Leave a Reflection  Return to Memorial  Print This Page  Continue Building Book  Page: 1 of 1

John i still think of you alot .to everyone john cherry was a great man.i was 20 years old on monday night sept27.1982 i was riding with john on the police dept ride along program.i had dinner with john monday evening.we went to the second precint to start the shift it was a quiet night.never forget we were at greenbrier mall when the 10-100 call came out.we sped to the schooner trail address.john i will never forget you buddy.rest in peace.

steve m.
friend
2009-10-29

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 27th anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Rest In Peace

Phyllis Loya

Anonymous

2009-09-27

SGT. Cherry your work on this Earth as we know it is done. You are in God's Hands now brother. May you rest in peace

SGT. Daryl Brewer
Clarksville Police Dept. Clarksville, Tennessee
2008-05-23

"The Badge"

He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.

He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.

Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.

He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.

His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.

He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.

And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.

But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.

Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.

Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.

So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.

In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.

Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.

Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1993 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC
2008-04-02

You laughed often and much;
You won the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
You earned the appreciation of honest critics
You left the world a bit better.
I know that more than one life has breathed easier
because you lived here.
This is what I know of you.

Today is a sad day as another Chesapeake PD officer has been killed in the line of duty. Thinking of you especially today.

-Your loving daughter

Bridgett Cherry
Daughter of John Cherry
2008-01-18

I think about my youth and all the trouble I was in and out of thanks to you being there .You were always the last person I wanted to see but looking back now I am thankful you did care .Sgt Cherry thanks to you I can hold my head high and know I am the man Iam today because of you. Thanks for everything you did for me and know I try to live my life helping anyone in anyway the way you showed me you did . Rest well peace be with all that knew you.

AJ Russell

2008-01-16

Everytime I pass your memory plaque in our living room, I smile. Sometimes I feel like you're near.

I wish you were here to see the woman I've grown up to become and to see me as a mother. I hope you are proud.

I miss you so much sometimes.

God bless and I hope you are at peace.

MaryEllen Mackay Welch
friend
2007-11-02

My prayers are with you and your family on this anniversary.
Rest easy Brother.

Former N.H. Police Officer
Fauquier County, VA
2007-09-27

I remember as a rookie going to a domestic with John where a man had a knife. All 130 lbs of him walked into that apartment with me like he was calmly strolling into a 7-11 for a cup of coffee. He talked the man into dropping he knife and after a 10 minute chat, we walked out of there as the man was hugging his wife and thanking John for not killing him.

The night he was killed, I was sent to another precinct to fill in for someone who called in sick, otherwise I would have been at that call. I am much bigger, stronger and less nice than John was, and I still wish I could have been there.

A CPD Cop
A CPD Cop
2007-02-09

I am truly happy to see John honored for the job for which he gave his life. John and I were good friends in the late 70's and I will never forget all the good times we had or the good he did for the citizens of Chesapeake. Rest well, John, and know we all still remember and care for you!

Lynda McKinney Schneider
Friend of John
2006-06-03

Thank you all for your warm comments. He is truly missed.

Bridgett Cherry
Daughter of John H.Cherry

Bridgett R. Cherry

2005-11-03

John was a good man. For me, he was like a father figure when I was a young girl. I was shy, but John taught me to hold my head high and walk tall. I'll always love him for that.

John had a great sense of humor. He always made me laugh. He helped me believe in Santa, when most kids my age already knew the truth.

The day of John's funeral, I remember seeing so many people from so many different states.....and all the cars. It was so overwhelming. I then realized that John not only meant alot to me, but he was respected and liked by so many.

To this day I think of him often, and every memory I have of John, lives on in my children.

God bless you John.

MaryEllen Mackay Welch

MaryEllen Mackay Welch

2005-11-01

On the anniversary of your death, I thank you for your service and salute you for your sacrifice.

A hero never dies.....

2004-09-27

peace officer. job well done

aj russell

2004-07-03

I was stationed in Portsmouth at the time of Officer cherrys death. i remember the news reports and felt for his family, as I recall he had a young daughter.Rest in peace officer. job well done. you will never be forgotten.

william burkholder

2004-05-25

I worked neighboring districts with John in the 70's, and we often back each other up. He came back to uniform patrol after several successful years as a detective, and he was always willing to pass on what he had learned in that job. John was always upbeat, genuinely friendly and the ultimate cop.

When John was killed, I was on the Sheriff's Department (K9), and did occasional prisoner transports to the penitentiary. It fell upon me to take the woman who killed John to the Goochland Women's Prison. While I was not anxious to do that transport, I did complete it, but I must say that I was tempted to do what the justice system didn't do for John (exact some retribution), but I didn't yield to the temptation. I knew John wouldn't have wanted that. Ironically, the woman who received 10 years for killing John set a fire in prison, and got 20 years for that crime (I know, a prison bunk seemed worth twice as much as a cop's life).

I have been to visit John's name on the wall several times over the years, but this year was the first time I was able to actually grieve for him openly (that story is at the NLEOMF site). I was also able to "introduce" him to several other Chesapeake officers who were there for Police Memorial Week, and that made me glad. Glad that I was able to do my part to keep John Cherry alive in the hearts and minds of good cops who came behind him.

God bless all those in blue and brown who make up the Thin Blue Line. May Saint Michael keep and protect them all!

Andy Black, Retired
Chesapeake Police

On behalf of the men and women of the Virginia State University Police Department, our thoughts and prayers to the Cherry family and the Chesapeake Police Department.

Virginia State University Police Department

My first week on the the street in 1980, Sgt. Cherry came up to me and shook my hand. He gave me some encouraging words and told me anything I needed, he was here. He was a policeman's, policeman. Twentythree years later I still remember his kindness and pass it on to the rookies, who spend there first days with me.

Sgt. J.M. Mamrot
Chesapeake Police Dept