Gilbert D. Benitez
Agency patch
Patrolman

Gilbert D. Benitez

New Orleans Police Department — New Orleans, LA
Felonious
End of Watch August 13, 1963
Age 24
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 98 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Gilbert Benitez was shot and killed as he and his partner attempted to arrest two robbery suspects. The suspects, who the officers were chasing, crashed into a parked car at St. Claude and Anthony Streets. In an exchange of gunfire Patrolman Benitez was shot in the face. Both suspects were arrested minutes later in the downtown area after a shootout with several officers. Patrolman Benitez's killer was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death, but his sentence was later commuted to life. He died in prison on August 3, 2006. The other suspect was sentenced to life. Patrolman Benitez had served with the New Orleans Police Department for four years and was assigned to the juvenile division.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two children, and three stepchildren.

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.
Patrolman Benitez gave the New Orleans Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the New Orleans community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Benitez.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New Orleans, Orleans Parish, LA
Platform Identity nopd.orleans.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 13, 1963
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 24
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Gilbert 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 1963, 71 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 100th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Gilbert was 24. 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. Gilbert had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

August holds 8.9% 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New Orleans Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Gilbert among them.

Across the years

Patrolman Gilbert D. Benitez

New Orleans Police Department · End of Watch August 13, 1963

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 38-W

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