Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff's Deputies John Bending and Green Willis responded to a battery call where two suspects were wanted for stabbing another citizen because he refused to buy them whiskey.
When the deputies arrived on the scene, they failed to hear warnings from another deputy that both suspects were armed. Both deputies were ambushed before they could get out of their car. Deputy Bending was shot in the head and killed instantly. Deputy Willis was shot in the abdomen and died three years later from the injuries he sustained in this incident.
Other officers returned fire killing one suspect and wounding the other. That suspect, 19, was convicted of Deputy Bending's murder and sentenced to life in prison on May 17, 1928.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-816D878F- 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 Bending gave the Scioto County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Portsmouth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Bending.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John Henry Bending 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Scioto County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Henry Bending's cause is highlighted.
How John Henry Bending Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Henry Bending is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Scioto County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
