Roll of Honor
Benning W. De La Mater
Incident
Game Protector De La Mater drowned when his boat capsized while patrolling the Hudson River near Federal Dam in Albany County. Protector De La Mater and a Niagara Mohawk Power Company employee could not escape the undercurrents. Their bodies were recovered two days later. Protector De La Mater was a United States Marine Corps World War II veteran and had served with the New York State Environmental Conservation Police for 12 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-A694F0BF- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Benning. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
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.
Game Protector De La Mater gave the New York State Environmental Conservation Police 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Albany 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Benning W. De La Mater served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Game Protector Benning W. De La Mater is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At New York State Environmental Conservation Police, 6 of 18 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Benning W. De La Mater's cause is highlighted.
How Benning W. De La Mater Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Benning W. De La Mater is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from New York State Environmental Conservation Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
