Officer Thomas Benton Worley

Officer Thomas Benton Worley

Los Angeles County Safety Police, California

End of Watch Wednesday, December 21, 1994

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Thomas Benton Worley

Office Thomas Worley was shot and killed when he attempted to intervene in a robbery while off duty at a shoe store at the intersection of Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Roscoe Boulevard.

He was shopping with his wife when he observed the robbery in progress and ordered the suspect to the ground. The man turned and fired at Officer Worley. He was able to return fire and kill the suspect as well.

Officer Worley, a U.S. Air Force veteran where he served as a security policeman, had been with the Los Angeles County Safety Police for 1-1/2 years. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

Bio

  • Age 32
  • Tour 1 year, 6 months
  • Badge Not available
  • Military Veteran

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Gun; Unknown type
  • Offender Shot and killed

off duty, robbery

Most Recent Reflection

View all 36 Reflections

Officer Worley,

I recall hearing the news of the incident in which you were killed. At the time I worked for an investigation company that contracted with Los Angeles County to document work related injuries to County employees. The Safety Police was one of those County departments I regularly worked with. I vividly recall speaking to the Chief of the Safety Police days after the incident. I was at his office on another matter, but the shooting had been so recent, and your death felt close to home for me, since I regularly interacted with Safety Police officers on my job. What made an impression on me, was that you were off duty, and that, while your area of responsibility on the job was confined to County property, you were not required to respond to a crime off of county property, yet you did. You put your life on the line to protect another person, thus making the ultimate sacrifice. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

Daniel Ryan
Private Investigator (Retired)

February 14, 2023

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