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Patrolman

Royce Leroy Bennett

Deming Police Department — Deming, NM

Felonious Veteran →

End of Watch July 25, 1979

Age 25

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 121 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman Royce Bennett was shot and killed during a traffic stop of a subject who was known to him. The vehicle stopped in a motel parking lot on U.S. Route 70. As he approached the vehicle the man shot a rifle through the driver's window, striking Patrolman Bennett in the chest. His vest stopped the round but the impact caused fatal injuries. Before succumbing to his wound he was able to return fire, but did not strike the subject. The man was acquitted of Patrolman Bennett's murder but was later shot and killed by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper during a traffic stop in which he opened fire on the trooper. Patrolman Bennett was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with Deming Police Department for just under 18 months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NM-CFC4BE3F
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.
Patrolman Bennett gave the Deming Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Deming 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 Deming Police Department

Location Deming, NM

Platform Identity dpd.luna.nm.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 25, 1979

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; 45.70

Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

Royce Leroy Bennett served in the Army (1972â1975) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Royce Leroy Bennett 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%.

Deming Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

NM — Statewide

123

of 193 officers

63.7% 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. Royce Leroy Bennett'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 Royce Leroy Bennett Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

1.5

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Royce Leroy Bennett is highlighted in Jul.

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. Royce Leroy Bennett was killed by rifle; 45.70.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518