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C. Robert Bennett
Agency patch
Officer

C. Robert Bennett

Birmingham Police Department — Birmingham, AL
Felonious
United States flag Alabama flag
End of Watch June 17, 2004
Age 33
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 152 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 48

Incident

Officer Robert Bennett, Officer Carlos Owen, and Officer Harley Chisholm were shot and killed at approximately 1:30 pm while serving a warrant at a home near 18th Street and Avenue P, in the Ensley area of the city.

The three victim officers, along with a fourth officer, went to the one-story row house that contained several apartments with a warrant for the arrest of a man on a misdemeanor assault charge. Officer Owen and Officer Chisholm entered the apartment through the back door intending to arrest the man.

The subject broke away from them and ran toward the front of the house where Officer Bennett was about to come through the front door. One of the two men inside then opened fire with an automatic SKS rifle, killing all three officers and wounding the fourth officer.

The shooter and several other suspects were taken into custody near the scene by a tactical team a short time later.

Two of the arrested men, 27 and 24, were convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. The older of the two was executed on March 5th, 2020.

Officer Bennett had served with the Birmingham Police Department for three years and was assigned to the West Precinct.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and four-year-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Bennett gave the Birmingham Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Bennett.

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

Agency

Department Birmingham Police Department
Type Other
Location Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL
Platform Identity birmpd.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 17, 2004
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Rifle; SKS

The Sacrifice · Felonious

C. is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 2004, 79 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 86th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

C. was 33. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. C. had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle; sks, in 0.1% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Birmingham Police Department has 49 officers remembered here, C. among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer C. Robert Bennett

Birmingham Police Department · End of Watch June 17, 2004

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 23-E

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