Officer Bernard M. Bennett

End of Watch:  May 13th, 1970

Biographical Information

• Age: 25
• Tour of Duty: Not available
• Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

• Cause of Death: Gunfire
• Date of Incident: Saturday, May 9, 1970
• Weapon Used: Rifle
• Suspect Info: Not available

Twenty-four-year-old Officer Bennett was critically wounded by a sniper’s bullet from a rooftop as he drove his patrol car through an Oak Park neighborhood on May 9, 1970.  The bullet ripped through the roof of the car and struck Officer Bennett in the back of the head.  The shooting happened just after police attempted to arrest a young man with a pistol at McClatchy Park.  About 35 young people confronted police over the attempted arrest.  The crowd accosted police, who retreated to their cars.  With no hope for survival, the officer clung to life for four days.  Officer Bennett, a three-year veteran, died on May 13, 1970.