Roll of Honor
Gregg Anthony "Nigel" Benner
Incident
Police Officer Nigel Benner was shot and killed while making a traffic stop near the intersection of Pinetree and Southern Roads at approximately 8:15 pm.
Officer Benner was about to go off-duty when he spotted a vehicle driving in an erratic manner. Inside that vehicle were a female driver and her boyfriend. The two were driving around Rio Rancho looking for a home to burglarize. When Officer Benner activated his light, the vehicle stopped. Officer Benner approached and began to speak with the female driver, and he obtained identification from her. The passenger, however, provided false identification information to the officer. After conducting a computer check, Officer Benner returned to the suspect's vehicle to question them further, but the suspects fled in the vehicle.
Officer Benner pursued the vehicle for a short distance before the passenger shot his girlfriend in the foot, and pushed her from the vehicle. Officer Benner stopped to check on her well being and then continued to pursue the suspect. A short distance away, the suspect shot Officer Benner several times. Wounded, Officer Benner walked back toward the female and asked "What was his name?", before collapsing.
Officer Benner was transported to UNM Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
The female suspect was arrested at the scene. The male suspect was arrested later that evening after robbing a gas station at gunpoint. On September 23rd, 2016, the male subject was convicted of murder and multiple other felonies related to the incident. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The female subject had previously accepted a plea deal to lesser charges.
Officer Benner was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Rio Rancho Police Department for four years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two children, and three stepchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-28B78A84- 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 Benner gave the Rio Rancho Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Rio Rancho 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
Gregg Anthony "Nigel" Benner served in the Air Force (1996â2011) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Gregg Anthony "Nigel" Benner 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 NM, 123 of 193 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.7% of this state's fallen. That is 9.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Rio Rancho Police Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gregg Anthony "Nigel" Benner's cause is highlighted.
How Gregg Anthony "Nigel" Benner Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gregg Anthony "Nigel" Benner is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gregg Anthony "Nigel" Benner was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Rio Rancho Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
