Desmond Sherry, a 29-year-old male police officer with the Cleveland Division of Police, tragically lost his life on July 3, 1980. Officer Sherry was off-duty and driving home when he noticed suspicious activity near East 66th Street and Euclid Avenue. He stopped his vehicle to investigate, but was shot in the face three times by one of the youths involved in the suspicious activity.
The suspects then stole his wallet and left him to die.
Following the incident, twelve members of a gang, all in their late teens and early 20s, were arrested. Out of these, five were charged with Officer Sherry's murder. During the trial, three of the suspects were acquitted, while the remaining two, both 17 years old, were convicted. One was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 27 years to life in prison, and the other was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and received a sentence of 7 to 25 years. The suspect convicted of murder was later granted parole in 2021.
Officer Sherry had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for seven years and was survived by his wife and two children. His dedication to his duty and his ultimate sacrifice are remembered and honored by his colleagues and the community.
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