Benjamin L. Green

Grant County Sheriff's Office — Silver City, NM

Felonious

End of Watch February 28, 1981

Age 38

The Vigil Panel 124 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Deputy Green was shot and killed in an ambush while investigating reports of a prowler with a rifle near Pinos Altos. While Deputy Green and his partner searched around a home, the suspect, who was hiding in a tree, shot Deputy Green in the chest with the rifle. Deputy Green was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wound later in the day. The suspect fled the scene but was arrested near Clifton, Arizona. The man was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Survivors

Deputy Green was survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters, and three stepchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NM-A45B7342
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.
Deputy Sheriff Green served with the Grant County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Silver City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Green.

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

Agency

Department Grant County Sheriff's Office

Location Silver City, NM

Platform Identity gcso.grant.nm.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 28, 1981

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Offender Life in prison

Deputy Sheriff Benjamin L. Green 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 Grant County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Grant County Sheriff's Office

of 4 officers

100% Felonious

NM — Statewide

123

of 193 officers

63.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious