Roll of Honor
Incident
Night Officer Ben Ray was shot and killed while on patrol.
The suspect was never identified or apprehended.
Officer Ray had served with the Sour Lake Police Department for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-AA19764A- 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.
Night Officer Ray gave the Sour Lake Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sour Lake community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Night Officer Ray.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Night Officer Benford Forrest Ray 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Benford Forrest Ray's cause is highlighted.
How Benford Forrest Ray Compares
Offender Outcome
Never identified
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Benford Forrest Ray is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Benford Forrest Ray was killed by rifle.