Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma
End of Watch Wednesday, October 5, 1983
Add to My HeroesTravis Leon Bench
Trooper Bench was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man during a traffic stop on State Highway 97. After checking the man's driver's license he learned that the man was driving on a suspended license. As he attempted to make the arrest the suspect ran to his car and retrieved a pistol.
As Trooper Bench took cover behind his cruiser he was struck in the head by a round that passed through the windshield and rear window of his patrol car.
The suspect was originally sentenced to life in prison, but the conviction was overturned in 1997 due to the suspect's mental status. The man was then committed to a state hospital.
Trooper Bench had been with the agency for 1 year.
Bio
- Age 26
- Tour 1 year
- Badge 697
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun
- Offender Committed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 19 ReflectionsI didn’t know about this site until today. I took the phone call at the Sapulpa PD that fateful day. After all his years I remember all of the details of every phone call I took and radio transmission that day. I remember when the date the time called wanting me to enter that “Old boy” in NCIC, but was thankfully able to tell him the man has been arrested and we were shutting all of the intersections down to get him to the jail. I remember the trail and hanging out with The troopers in the hallway; everyone waiting to be called in. I wasn’t up on the hill that day as the officers were but we i’ll suffer together. Rest in peace Leon.
Paige McClain, records clerk/dispatcher
Sapulpa PD
May 28, 2020
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