Hundreds Attend Funeral in Prince George’s for Officer Terry Bennett

Hundreds of mourners filled City of Praise Family Ministries in Prince George’s County on Jan. 23 for a funeral service honoring D.C. police officer Terry Bennett, an eight-year veteran and Ballou High School alumnus. The ceremony drew family, colleagues and community members who remembered Bennett as a mentor, coach and civic-minded presence in local youth programs.

Speakers at the service recounted Bennett’s work with students and his engagement in the community. The program included tributes from family members and officials, a video remembrance, and public recognition that Bennett’s decision to be an organ donor resulted in another person receiving a second chance at life. After the service, a law-enforcement procession escorted Bennett to Maryland National Memorial Cemetery for burial.

Bennett was struck on Dec. 23 while assisting a stranded motorist in Washington, D.C., and later died of his injuries. Authorities have charged a suspect in connection with the incident. The circumstances of his death and the subsequent funeral underscored both grief and gratitude across parts of Prince George’s County and the District of Columbia, particularly among youth programs and Ballou High School alumni who cited Bennett’s local ties.

The scale of the turnout signaled the depth of Bennett’s local connections and raised questions about protections for officers and civilians who stop to help drivers. Departments and municipal leaders face choices about training, roadside safety protocols and public information campaigns that could affect how officers and residents respond when motorists are stranded. Bennett’s role as a coach and mentor also highlighted the informal public safety work officers perform through community engagement, a factor that influences public confidence in local policing and civic partnerships.

For residents of Prince George’s County, the funeral was both a moment of communal mourning and a reminder of the civic role law enforcement plays beyond patrols and arrests. Bennett’s status as a Ballou High School alumnus and coach-style mentor reinforced the intersection of schools, community organizations and police outreach in shaping youth opportunities and neighborhood safety networks.

As the criminal case proceeds and departmental reviews continue, elected officials and police leadership will assess whether policy changes are needed to reduce risks during roadside assistance and to support officers who serve as mentors in their neighborhoods. For readers, the loss and the large public response underscore the importance of civic engagement, participating in local forums, communicating with county and city representatives, and attending community meetings where public safety and youth programming are set by voters and leaders.