Colorado Springs Police Department, Colorado
End of Watch: Sunday, June 28, 1896
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 28, 1896
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: One committed suicide
Officer Benjamin Bish was shot and killed while checking an alley between Tejon Street and Cascade Avenue, south of Pikes Peak Avenue, in downtown Colorado Springs.
During his check, he observed two men he believed to be burglarizing nearby businesses. Officer Bish found a revolver in one of the men's pockets and began to escort them out of the alley and towards the police station. The other man then pulled out a concealed handgun from under his coat and shot Officer Bish once in the chest. Although mortally wounded, Officer Bish was able to return fire while laying on the ground.
A posse was formed shortly after the incident to search for the suspects. One of the suspects had committed suicide shortly after the incident and the other was arrested and sentenced to life. The man's sentence was commuted on July 1st, 1913, and he was released the following week after serving only 17 years in prison.
Officer Bish was a veteran of the Colorado State Militia.