Jessica Cheney

Jessica Jean Cheney dedicated herself to serving the citizens of Virginia, following family tradition and answering the call of duty. After graduating from the Virginia State Police Academy in June 1996 — at the time the youngest female trooper ever — she served in Division II, patrolling Stafford County and the surrounding region. Her commitment to public safety, professionalism, and community protection reflected the highest ideals of law enforcement, and she quickly became respected among her colleagues.

On January 17, 1998, while directing traffic at the scene of a separate motor vehicle accident on U.S. Route 1, Trooper Cheney was struck by a passing vehicle that crested a hill and failed to stop. Severely injured, she was airlifted to a hospital but tragically succumbed to her wounds that evening. Her badge — number 980 — was the first ever retired by the Virginia State Police, a permanent symbol of her sacrifice. Her loss remains a solemn reminder of the risks borne daily by those who stand between danger and the public, and of the price some pay in service to their communities.