On the evening of January 17, 2008, a dedicated Chesapeake Police Detective, Jarrod Brent Shivers, a 34-year-old Caucasian male, tragically lost his life in the line of duty. A U.S. Navy veteran with eight years of service on the police force, Shivers was part of a team executing a high-risk narcotics search warrant at a residence on Redstart Avenue. As a member of the SWAT team and a breacher, he was attempting to force entry into the home when the unexpected happened.
A single shot was fired from within the house, piercing the front door and striking Detective Shivers.
The wound proved to be fatal for the devoted husband and father of three. The man inside the residence, Ryan David Frederick, barricaded himself inside for a short time before being apprehended by law enforcement at the scene. Frederick, who was 28 at the time, was taken into custody and subsequently charged with first-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The investigation revealed that the warrant was for a suspected marijuana growing operation.
The case proceeded to trial, where the events of that fateful night were recounted. In May 2009, Ryan David Frederick was found guilty of a lesser charge, voluntary manslaughter. He was subsequently sentenced to serve 10 years in prison for the death of Detective Shivers. The tragic loss of Detective Shivers was deeply felt by his family, the Chesapeake Police Department, and the wider community, who remembered him as an excellent officer and a devoted family man. Hundreds of mourners attended his funeral to pay their respects to the fallen officer who had made the ultimate sacrifice.
