Charleston Police Department, South Carolina
End of Watch: Friday, June 17, 1955
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: 120
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: June 17, 1955
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Sergeant Jessie Benton and Detective James Tindal were killed in an automobile accident near Holly Hill, South Carolina, while returning to Charleston to assist at the Charleston Tidewater Terminal fire.
The two officers, along with their wives, had been in Charlotte, North Carolina, to represent the Charleston Police Department in a pistol competition. All members of the department were ordered to return to Charleston to assist at the scene of the fire. The wives of both officers were also killed in the accident.
Policeman Lawrence Aytes had been killed in the fire while attempting to rescue a citizen.
Sergeant Benton was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII and had served with the Charleston Police Department for 10 years. He was survived by one son.