Anchorage Police Department, Alaska
End of Watch: Thursday, January 4, 1968
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 4, 1968
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Released after six years
Officer Benjamin Strong was shot and killed during a stakeout of a liquor store following a rash of holiday robberies.
He was scheduled to be off-duty but had volunteered for the assignment. While in a storage room, two suspects entered the store, and one detained the clerk while the other started going through the register. Officer Strong made his presence known, and a struggle ensued, at which point Officer Strong's shotgun was kicked from his hands. Both suspects were shot and wounded, and Officer Strong was shot in the chest.
The suspects were captured and sentenced to 99 years in prison but were released after serving only six years.
Officer Strong had served with the Anchorage Police Department for one year. He was survived by his expectant wife and 2-year-old daughter.