Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer George Copeland and Police Officer James Bennett were struck and killed by a vehicle while directing traffic around an accident scene around 12:52 a.m. Officer Copeland and Officer Bennett were at Interstate 35 south of Nogalitos Street, directing traffic and setting up flares around the disabled vehicles. They were behind their patrol car, with emergency lights flashing, retrieving more flares when a vehicle struck them. They were hit with enough force that the vehicle burst into flames, careened down the embankment, and threw the officers over 100 feet. Other officers at the scene were able to put out the fire. Officer Copeland was transported to the Brooke Army Medical Center, where he succumbed to his wounds that afternoon. His partner, Officer Bennett, was pronounced dead upon arrival at Baptist Hospital. The driver was charged with manslaughter. He was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to one year. Officer Copeland had served with the San Antonio Police Department for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-3C08FA2A- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Copeland gave the San Antonio Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Antonio community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Copeland.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer George E. Copeland, III is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In TX, 657 of 2,421 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27.1% of this state's fallen. That is 27.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At San Antonio Police Department, 22 of 64 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 34.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George E. Copeland, III's cause is highlighted.
How George E. Copeland, III Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. George E. Copeland, III is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
63 officers from San Antonio Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
