Michael Jay Bentley
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Michael Jay Bentley

Kern County Sheriff's Office — Bakersfield, CA
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch October 19, 1983
Age 33
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Michael Bentley was killed when his cruiser was intentionally rammed by a fleeing armed robbery suspect. The suspect was fleeing an armed robbery of a convenience store in a stolen pick-up. The suspect changed direction, and before the pursuing deputy could broadcast the direction, he approached Deputy Bentley's unit head-on, explaining later that he saw the vehicle but decided to commit suicide by ramming the patrol car. The subject suffered a cut lip. The subject was sentenced to life imprisonment but is eligible for parole. Deputy Bentley was a United States Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Kern County Sheriff's Office for eight years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, stepson, parents.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Michael is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Bentley gave the Kern County Sheriff's Office 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bakersfield community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Bakersfield, Kern County, CA
Platform Identity kcso.kern.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 19, 1983
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

Military Service

Michael Jay Bentley served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1969–1970) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Michael is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1983, 106 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 47th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Michael was 33. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Michael had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Kern County Sheriff's Office has 28 officers remembered here, Michael among them.

Deputy Sheriff Michael Jay Bentley

Kern County Sheriff's Office · End of Watch October 19, 1983

Military Service

Michael Jay Bentley served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1969–1970) before joining law enforcement.

Visit Michael Jay Bentley’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 64-E

Also Remembered

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