Dozens gather to remember slain SLO detective, CA officers killed in line of duty

It’s been five years since the death of San Luis Obispo Police Department’s Det. Luca Benedetti.

But San Luis Obispo County continues to honor him, among other fallen officers, at a Peace Officers’ Memorial event held on Thursday morning.

At least 100 peace officers, county and city officials and members of the public attended the memorial at Mission Plaza in downtown San Luis Obispo on Thursday. The event is hosted by the Criminal Justice Administrators’ Association of SLO, paying respect to the 12 California officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2025, alongside all SLO County officers lost in the past 125 years.

A full-sized American flag flew from a crane on Chorro Street, roses lay on tables next to packs of tissues, labels reserved two rows of seating for loved ones and a live horse stood with an empty saddle, symbolizing a fallen leader’s final journey.

Four planes flew overhead in a Missing Man Formation, what’s described as an aerial salute to the dead, before San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica A. Stewart spoke.

“It is my honor to be here today to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our community and the communities throughout our nation,” Stewart said. “I want to thank our local law enforcement from across San Luis Obispo County for being here. You each put yourselves in harm’s way every day to serve each member of our community, regardless of their identity, their background or their documentation status, you often face the most dangerous and unpredictable conditions, and I can’t express my gratitude and appreciation enough.”

The local wound of an officer’s ultimate sacrifice was still fresh that morning, despite it being multiple years since the Benedetti’s, who was involved in a shooting while serving a search warrant in SLO in May 2021 that sparked an outpouring of grief throughout the community.

At the Thursday memorial, SLOPD Chief Rick Scott said he remembered Benedetti as excellent and selfless.

“Why did the good seem to die young? I believe the good are taken from us because the wicked and the evil fear officers like Luca,” Scott said. “They fear officers like Luca that stand for good and because they make a difference. Well, even though we lost Luca and the 12 officers we’re honoring here today, ... evil has failed, and evil will continue to fail, for now we have a legacy. We have a legacy from Luca that represents excellence in law enforcement and selfless service to others and bravery in the face of danger. This legacy of excellence and compassion and service has been, and will always be, passed down through SLOPD for generations to come.”

Besides Benedetti, the county also recognized the 12 officers throughout the state who had lost their lives this past year.

Through a presentation of roses and the ringing of the Mission bell, each officer’s name was read aloud by SLO County District Attorney Dan Dow.

“This is such an important event for us to do — ceremonies to honor and memorialize the lives of people have been done throughout human history,” Dow said. “It’s important that we pause, and we take time to both mourn with those who are suffering deep loss, to honor the selfless service of those who have gone and finally, to bless the loved ones that are here with a commitment to stand with them continually in the future, in memory of their loved one.”

California officers lost in 2025 included:

• Timothy Corlew, Riverside County Sheriff’s Office
• Hector Cuevas Jr., San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
• Osmar Ordarte, Maryville Police Department
• Samuel Riveros, Baldwin Park Police Department
• I Shiou Lih Deng, Los Angeles Police Department
• Joshua Byrd, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
• Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
• Victor Lemus, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
• Willaim Osborn, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
• Lauren Craven, La Mesa Police Department
• Andrew Nuñez, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
• Alec Sanders, Alhambra Police Department

This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 4:23 PM.