Roll of Honor
Ryan Patrick Bonaminio
Incident
Officer Ryan Bonaminio was shot and killed while involved in a foot pursuit in Fairmount Park at approximately 9:45 pm.
He had stopped the driver of a tractor trailer suspected of being involved in a hit-and-run accident a short time earlier. The driver fled from the vehicle into the park, with Officer Bonaminio in pursuit.
As Officer Bonaminio rounded a corner of a church he slipped and fell, at which point the suspect struck him on the head with a metal pipe and disarmed him. The suspect then shot Officer Bonaminio in the head twice despite the officer's pleas not to shoot. Officer Bonaminio was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds a short time later.
After shooting the officer, the suspect returned to the truck and drove it to the location from where it was stolen. The man was arrested two days later.
It was later discovered that the suspect had been arrested 13 times, received several prior convictions and was paroled in February 2009 for a previous crime. In May 2012, the suspect was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with Officer Bonaminio's murder and the jury subsequently recommended he receive the death penalty. On June 25, 2012, he was sentenced to death.
Officer Bonaminio had served as a military policeman in the U.S. Army for four years, serving two tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Survivors
He also served with the Riverside Police Department for four years and is survived by his parents, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-15E7E374- 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 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 Bonaminio gave the Riverside Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Riverside community. Thank you 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
Ryan Patrick Bonaminio served in the Army (2003â2004) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Ryan Patrick Bonaminio 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 Riverside Police Department, 14 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 93.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ryan Patrick Bonaminio's cause is highlighted.
How Ryan Patrick Bonaminio Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ryan Patrick Bonaminio is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ryan Patrick Bonaminio was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Riverside Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
