Fredericksburg Police Officer Receives Award For Valor

NORFOLK, VA — Fredericksburg Police Officer David Cabrera received the Award for Valor at Tuesday's annual Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police & Foundation Awards Banquet. Cabrera is among 20 officers to receive the award at the event held in Norfolk.

The Award for Valor recognizes law enforcement officers who, in the line of duty, performed an act of extraordinary heroism while engaged with an adversary despite imminent personal risk. On July 23, 2018, Cabrera was among Fredericksburg officers who responded to a domestic disturbance call. Cabrera was the first officer to arrive on the scene.

Seconds after knocking on the front door, a man quickly opened the storm door and stabbed Cabrera in his face and neck with a box cutter-style knife. Cabrera withdrew from the residence as the offender yelled obscenities and flaunted his weapon. In fear for his life, Cabrera fired at the suspect, causing the offender to retreat into the residence.

After moving to a safe place, Cabrera attempted numerous times to contact the E-911 Communications Center by radio, though he was unable to because the offender’s knife had struck the radio cord. According to a release, Cabrera remained calm while activating his emergency alert button and attempting to call the communications center using his cell phone. All the while, Cabrera was assessing his wounds and his surroundings, and maintaining a close watch on the residence to ensure his safety and the safety of the neighbors.

Additional units were dispatched to the incident when the communications center was unable to reach Cabrera by radio. A fire marshal was the first to arrive and rendered aid to Cabrera, who was subsequently taken to Mary Washington Hospital where he was treated and released later that evening.

Cabrera now speaks about his experience to recruits at the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Academy as part of the officer survival course.

“Officer Cabrera showed impressive valor, courage, and commitment during the life-threatening incident,” VACP officials said in a news release. “The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police is pleased to present Fredericksburg Police Officer David Cabrera with the 2019 Award for Valor.”