Police Officer Berchman L. White
South Norfolk Police Department
Virginia
End of Watch: Monday, August 4, 1941

Biographical Info
Age: Not available
Tour of Duty: 1 year, 6 months
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Monday, August 4, 1941
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Committed suicide

Officer White was shot and killed while he and his partner transported a prisoner from the South Norfolk Trial Justice Court to the Norfolk County Jail. As the officers approached the jail the prisoner reached from the back seats, grabbed Officer White's partner's service revolver, and then shot Officer White in the head. The suspect then committed suicide with the pistol.

Norfolk County and the City of South Norfolk merged in 1963 to form the City of Chesapeake. Both police agencies were also merged and no longer exist. Officer White had been with the agency for 18 months and was survived by his wife and two daughters.