Sidney J. Benson
Patrolman

Sidney J. Benson

El Paso Police Department — El Paso, TX
Felonious
End of Watch June 28, 1917
Age 39
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Badge 5
The Vigil Panel 32 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Sidney Benson was shot and killed while transporting a prisoner to jail. During the drive the suspect, who was not handcuffed, reached over and grabbed Patrolman Benson's handgun. He then shot him twice in the head and twice in the torso. The suspect fled the scene and was never apprehended. Patrolman Benson had served with the El Paso Police Department for seven years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and one-year-old son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-6146E400
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.
Patrolman Benson gave the El Paso Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the El Paso community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Benson.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location El Paso, El Paso County, TX
Platform Identity eppd.elpaso.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 28, 1917
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 39
Badge Number 5
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Patrolman Sidney J. Benson 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At El Paso Police Department, 23 of 34 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 67.6% of this agency's fallen.

El Paso Police Department
23
of 34 officers
67.6% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% 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. Sidney J. Benson's cause is highlighted.

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

How Sidney J. Benson Compares

Age at Death
39
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sidney J. Benson is highlighted in Jun.

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. Sidney J. Benson was killed by officer's handgun.

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