Dennis E. Bennington
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Police Officer

Dennis E. Bennington

Cincinnati Police Department — Cincinnati, OH
Felonious
End of Watch March 6, 1979
Age 31
Tour of Duty 9 yrs 6 mo
Badge P082
The Vigil Panel 121 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Dennis Bennington and Officer Robert Seiffert were shot and killed during a traffic stop of a man with an aggravated robbery warrant on Oak and May Streets in Cincinnati. As Officer Bennington approached the suspect from the side Officer Seiffert approached from the rear. The suspect shot Officer Bennington in the chest and fired over his shoulder as he got back in his car, striking Officer Seiffert in the head as he dove for cover. Officer Bennington was able to stand back up and return fire, striking the suspect in the head and killing him. Both officers were transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Officer Bennington had served with the Cincinnati Police Department for 9.5 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two children, and parents.

In Our Keeping

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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 Bennington gave the Cincinnati Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Bennington.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
Platform Identity cincpd.hamilton.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 6, 1979
Tour of Duty 9 yrs 6 mo
Age 31
Badge Number P082
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 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 1979, 136 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Dennis was 31. 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. Dennis had served 9.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Cincinnati Police Department has 106 officers remembered here, Dennis among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Dennis E. Bennington

Cincinnati Police Department · End of Watch March 6, 1979

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 51-W

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