Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Rocky Bonney drowned while trying to save a teenage boy who had fallen into the icy Androscoggin River while walking along a railroad trestle. Officer Bonney was the first officer to arrive at the scene and immediately took off his jacket and service belt. He dove into the river and was able to make it to the boy. The boy began to struggle with Officer Bonney out of fear. A second officer arrived at the scene and also entered the water. Realizing that he could not continue, Officer Bonney pushed the boy towards the other officer. The other officer grabbed the boy as Officer Bonney fell below the surface. The boy continued to struggle and also fell below the surface after causing the other officer to lose his grip. Officer Bonney's body was not located until the following afternoon. A park near the site was later named in his memory. Officer Bonney was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Auburn Police Department for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-ME-912E499E- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy, salute.nw. One record, 3 gates. Rodney 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.
Police Officer Bonney gave the Auburn Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Auburn 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
Rodney C. Bonney served in the U.S. Navy (1968â1972) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Rodney C. Bonney is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In ME, 41 of 102 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 40.2% of this state's fallen. That is 40.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Auburn Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Rodney C. Bonney's cause is highlighted.
How Rodney C. Bonney Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Rodney C. Bonney is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Military Service
Rodney C. Bonney served in the U.S. Navy (1968–1972) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Rodney C. Bonney’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Auburn Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
