Officer Thomas Benton Worley, Los Angeles County Safety Police, California

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

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Most Recent Reflection

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After I became an investigator in our Department’s investigative unit, Tom, who was still in patrol, used to come by my desk and run his crime reports by me. He said he wanted to perfect his reports because he wanted to be an investigator when the opportunity arose. He demonstrated a true caring, and a desire to achieve excellence in his work, that was rarely seen. Although I never had the chance to truly get to know Tom because he was taken from us, what I saw made me certain that if given the opportunity, I would have been working for him someday. What a good, caring, and truly brave human being he was. May you rest in the arms of the angels, Tom. God’s Speed.

Joel Sokolow, Former Police Sergeant
Los Angeles County Police, Office of Public Safety

April 11, 2025