Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

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

February 9, 2007

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

June 3, 2006

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

Bridgett Cherry
Daughter of John H.Cherry

Bridgett R. Cherry

November 3, 2005

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

November 1, 2005

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

A hero never dies.....

September 27, 2004

peace officer. job well done

aj russell

July 3, 2004

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

May 25, 2004

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