Roll of Honor

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Police Officer

Benjamin T. "Benny" McDonald

Lanett Police Department — Lanett, AL

Felonious

End of Watch November 21, 1936

Age 27

The Vigil Panel 72 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Police Officer Benjamin McDonald was shot and killed as he and another officer responded to a disturbance call involving a drunk driver in the Lanett Triangle area.

As Officer McDonald ordered the driver to stop the passenger opened fire with a shotgun, striking Officer McDonald and the other officer. Both officers were transported to a local hospital where Officer McDonald died six days later.

Both subjects were convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison. A year later one was granted a new trial and sentenced to two and a half years.

Officer McDonald was survived by his wife and two children.

Survivors

Officer McDonald was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-D7098F24
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 McDonald served with the Lanett Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lanett community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer McDonald.

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

Agency

Department Lanett Police Department

Location Lanett, AL

Platform Identity lpd.chambers.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 21, 1936

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Sentenced to 25 years

Police Officer Benjamin T. "Benny" McDonald 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Lanett Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Benjamin T. "Benny" McDonald's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Benjamin T. "Benny" McDonald Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 25 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Benjamin T. "Benny" McDonald is highlighted in Nov.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Benjamin T. "Benny" McDonald was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518