Cecilia M. Cipriani-Benefiel
Agency patch
Lieutenant

Cecilia M. Cipriani-Benefiel

El Paso County Sheriff's Office — Colorado Springs, CO
Felonious
End of Watch November 16, 1990
Age 32
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 136 ›
Gender Female

Incident

Lieutenant Cecilia Cipriani-Benefiel was shot and killed at her home, near the intersection of Dorchester Drive and West Navajo Street, when she surprised a burglary suspect. Her body was found the following day when she did not respond to telephone calls or arrive to work. Lieutenant Cipriani-Benefiel had served with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office for eight years.

Survivors

She is survived by two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-503EFA44
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Lieutenant Cipriani-Benefiel gave the El Paso County Sheriff's Office 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Colorado Springs community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Cipriani-Benefiel.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Colorado Springs, El Paso County, CO
Platform Identity epcso.elpaso.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 16, 1990
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 32
Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Lieutenant Cecilia M. Cipriani-Benefiel is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 65.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At El Paso County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

El Paso County Sheriff's Office
4
of 6 officers
66.7% Felonious
CO — Statewide
235
of 360 officers
65.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Cecilia M. Cipriani-Benefiel's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Cecilia M. Cipriani-Benefiel Compares

Age at Death
32
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Cecilia M. Cipriani-Benefiel is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Cecilia M. Cipriani-Benefiel was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location