Police Officer Rodney C. "Rocky" Bonney

Police Officer Rodney C.
Auburn Police Department, Maine
Police Officer Rodney C. "Rocky" Bonney

Auburn Police Department, Maine

End of Watch Monday, April 6, 1981

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Rodney C. "Rocky" Bonney

Police Officer Rocky Bonney drowned while trying to save a teenage boy who had fallen into the icy Androscoggin River while walking along a railroad trestle.

Officer Bonney was the first officer to arrive at the scene and immediately took off his jacket and service belt. He dove into the river and was able to make it to the boy.

The boy began to struggle with Officer Bonney out of fear. A second officer arrived at the scene and also entered the water. Realizing that he could not continue, Officer Bonney pushed the boy towards the other officer. The other officer grabbed the boy as Officer Bonney fell below the surface. The boy continued to struggle and also fell below the surface after causing the other officer to lose his grip.

Officer Bonney's body was not located until the following afternoon. A park near the site was later named in his memory.

Officer Bonney was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Auburn Police Department for two years. He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

Bio

  • Age 32
  • Tour 2 years
  • Badge 35
  • Military Veteran

Incident Details

  • Cause Drowned

water rescue

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I served in the Navy and became good friends with Rodney while we were being trained in Great Lakes, Illinois. He made me laugh and his being from Maine with his accent and his laugh, when we got to know each other, made me appreciate what a good guy he was. I was always determined to go to Maine and look him up. For years I tried my best to search through records to find his phone number or address. When I lived in Virginia, I tried again as I had vacation time coming and wanted to look up my 'A' School buddy while in Maine. As I recall that effort was around the late 80's. Then, later, I did an 'online' search where I found the memorial to Rodney. That shook me to the core with his passing and how he died. I contacted his police force and was hoping to get a Navy picture to 'Cherry', his wife if I'm correct. She did contact me via email and wished to have me send the picture to his daughter. Before I got to send the picture, my computer died and 'no' backup and thus lost all address information. Also, I have had health issues with more hospital visits than I'd like. If anyone can find his daughter, or should some other address where I can get the picture to her, I would appreciate that. I felt bad when I promised to get it sent and Murphy's law hit me. Rodney becoming an police officer after the Navy surprised me as we never really discussed what we were going to do career-wise after serving our enlistment. Rodney was the best.

ex-Navy Optical Repairman Carlton Brooks
friend from Navy 'A' School

August 29, 2018

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