Terry William Bennett
Agency patch
Police Officer

Terry William Bennett

San Diego Police Department — San Diego, CA
Felonious
End of Watch June 26, 2003
Age 38
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
The Vigil Panel 151 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Terry Bennett was killed when his police motorcycle was intentionally rammed during a vehicle pursuit at approximately 12:30 pm.

Officer Bennett was chasing a stolen work truck when the driver made a U-turn and drove toward Officer Bennett near the intersection of Kenwood Street and Iona Drive. Officer Bennett attempted to abandon his motorcycle and run to safety when the man intentionally drove onto the sidewalk and struck him. The driver was apprehended approximately ten minutes later. Officer Bennett was transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital where he died from his injuries approximately three hours later.

The 37-year-old offender, an ex-convict with a long criminal history, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on March 15th, 2005.

Officer Bennett had served with the San Diego Police Department for 13 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two young children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
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.
Police Officer Bennett gave the San Diego Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Diego community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Bennett.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location San Diego, San Diego County, CA
Platform Identity sdpd.sandiego.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 26, 2003
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Vehicular assault
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Terry 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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 2003, 64 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Terry was 38. 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. Terry had served 13 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 automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

San Diego Police Department has 38 officers remembered here, Terry among them.

VI

Where

Police Officer Terry William Bennett

San Diego Police Department · End of Watch June 26, 2003

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 4-W

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