Benjamin F. Bish

Colorado Springs Police Dept. — Colorado Springs, CO

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch June 28, 1896

Age 33

The Vigil Panel 13 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 12

Incident

Officer Benjamin Bish was shot and killed while checking an alley between Tejon Street and Cascade Avenue, south of Pikes Peak Avenue, in downtown Colorado Springs. During his check, he observed two men he believed to be burglarizing nearby businesses. Officer Bish found a revolver in one of the men's pockets and began to escort them out of the alley and towards the police station. The other man then pulled out a concealed handgun from under his coat and shot Officer Bish once in the chest. Although mortally wounded, Officer Bish was able to return fire while laying on the ground. A posse was formed shortly after the incident to search for the suspects. One of the suspects had committed suicide shortly after the incident and the other was arrested and sentenced to life. The man's sentence was commuted on July 1st, 1913, and he was released the following week after serving only 17 years in prison. Officer Bish was a veteran of the Colorado State Militia.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CO-F5F1948F
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.
Officer Bish served with the Colorado Springs Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Colorado Springs community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Colorado Springs Police Dept.

Location Colorado Springs, CO

Platform Identity cspd.elpaso.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 28, 1896

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender One committed suicide

Military Service

Benjamin F. Bish served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer Benjamin F. Bish 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 11.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Colorado Springs Police Dept., 8 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.5% of this agency's fallen.

Colorado Springs Police Dept.

of 13 officers

61.5% Felonious

CO — Statewide

235

of 360 officers

65.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious