Roll of Honor
Ben Wesley Strickland
Incident
Patrolman Ben Strickland was shot and killed after making a traffic stop of a speeding car at a rest stop on I-20 near Columbia at 3:00 a.m. After arresting the driver and placing him in handcuffs, the passenger approached him from behind and opened fire, killing him. Hours later, a Cayce police officer spotted the car and pursued it into a subdivision, where the two suspects exchanged shots with the officer as they abandoned the car and ran. The next night, at a home in Columbia, a man awoke to the sound of a shotgun blast through his front door. He was abducted by one suspect who forced him to drive to Columbia. As he was driving toward several police cars, the suspect attempted to crawl into the back seat. The driver slammed on the brakes, hit the suspect with his fist, and jumped out a ran to the police. Police officers discovered he had knocked the suspect out when they took him into custody. The other suspect was apprehended minutes later during a search of the area. Both suspects, 21 and 22, were charged with murder. The gunman was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. The other was convicted of accessory to murder and sentenced to 10 years. Patrolman Strickland, a U.S. Army veteran, served as a St. George police officer before starting his 16-year career with the South Carolina Highway Patrol. He was survived by his wife and two sons. In 2012, mile marker 49 on South Carolina's I-20 in Lexington County was named for him on the 38th anniversary of his death.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-2580BB30- 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 First Class Strickland gave the South Carolina Highway Patrol 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of South Carolina, and 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
Ben Wesley Strickland served in the Army (1951â1957) before joining law enforcement.
Patrolman First Class Ben Wesley Strickland 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At South Carolina Highway Patrol, 20 of 52 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 38.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ben Wesley Strickland's cause is highlighted.
How Ben Wesley Strickland Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ben Wesley Strickland is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ben Wesley Strickland was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
51 officers from South Carolina Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
