Terry William Bennett

San Diego Police Dept. — San Diego, CA

Felonious

End of Watch June 26, 2003

Age 38

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

The Vigil Panel 151 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 37

Incident

Police Officer Terry Bennett was killed when his police motorcycle was intentionally rammed during a vehicle pursuit at approximately 12:30 pm.

Officer Bennett was chasing a stolen work truck when the driver made a U-turn and drove toward Officer Bennett near the intersection of Kenwood Street and Iona Drive. Officer Bennett attempted to abandon his motorcycle and run to safety when the man intentionally drove onto the sidewalk and struck him. The driver was apprehended approximately ten minutes later. Officer Bennett was transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital where he died from his injuries approximately three hours later.

The 37-year-old offender, an ex-convict with a long criminal history, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on March 15th, 2005.

Officer Bennett had served with the San Diego Police Department for 13 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two young children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-CC3B2FCE
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.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Bennett gave the San Diego Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Diego community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Bennett.

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

Agency

Department San Diego Police Dept.

Location San Diego, CA

Platform Identity sdpd.sandiego.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 26, 2003

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Vehicular assault

Weapon Automobile

Offender Sentenced to life

Police Officer Terry William Bennett is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At San Diego Police Dept., 27 of 38 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.1% of this agency's fallen.

San Diego Police Dept.

of 38 officers

71.1% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious