Travis Leon Bench

Oklahoma Highway Patrol — Oklahoma City, OK

Felonious

End of Watch October 5, 1983

Age 26

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Badge 697

The Vigil Panel 127 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 38

Incident

Trooper T. Leon Bench was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man during a traffic stop on State Highway 97 one mile north of the Sapulpa Turnpike. After checking the man's driver's license he learned that the man was driving on a suspended license. As he attempted to make the arrest the suspect ran to his car and retrieved a pistol. As Trooper Bench took cover behind his cruiser he was struck in the head by a round that passed through the windshield and rear window of his patrol car. The suspect was originally sentenced to life in prison, but the conviction was overturned in 1997 due to the suspect's mental status. The man was then committed to a state hospital. Trooper Bench had served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for one year and had previously served with the Sapulpa Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and 3-month-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-A5BE4F97
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.
Trooper Bench gave the Oklahoma Highway Patrol 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Bench.

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

Agency

Department Oklahoma Highway Patrol

Location Oklahoma City, OK

Platform Identity ohp.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 5, 1983

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 26

Badge Number 697

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Committed

Trooper Travis Leon Bench 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Oklahoma Highway Patrol, 19 of 39 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.7% of this agency's fallen.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol

of 39 officers

48.7% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious