Video: NM Cop Killer Gets Sentenced to Life in Prison
The judge had some harsh words for the man convicted of murdering Rio Rancho (NM) Officer Gregg Benner, telling Andrew Romero that he will “die in prison.”
October 4, 2016
1 min to read
The judge had some harsh words for the man convicted of murdering Rio Rancho (NM) Officer Gregg Benner, telling Andrew Romero that he will “die in prison.”
Friday, in a packed courtroom that included the officer’s friends and family, the judge sentenced Romero to life without parole.
After the judge handed down the sentence, he called Officer Benner’s widow, Julie, up to the bench and handed her the badge and pin Officer Benner wore up until the day he was murdered.
Benner was shot and killed at a traffic stop in May 2015.
Officer Gregg Benner was killed in May 2015. (Photo: Rio Rancho DPS)
Tabitha Littles was also sentenced Friday. Littles is Romero’s ex-girlfriend who was with him the night he shot Officer Benner.
She was charged with Officer Benner’s murder after prosecutors argued she didn’t do anything to warn Officer Benner that Romero was armed and planned to shoot him. But that murder charge was dropped when she agreed to testify against Romero.
The judge sentenced her to 16 years, the minimum allowed under the plea deal. She could be out in as little as eight with good time, KRQE TV reports.
More Patrol
Colorado State Patrol Releases 2025 Struck-By Analysis
The Colorado State Patrol, after analyzing its 2025 struck-by incidents, identified one area for improvement: using traffic cones to provide advanced warning before the cruiser's location. Here is the agency’s final data.
Read More →
Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year
Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.
Read More →Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year
Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.
Read More →
The Mission After the Moment
The mission of the Jorge Pastore Foundation is to support first responders through essential training, stronger community engagement, and mental wellness resources, all accessible and funded through donations, sponsorships, and foundation-led fundraising. It works closely with Team Wendy in the discussions about developing better protective gear for officers.
Read More →
Sponsored•March 17, 2026
Built for Patrol: How One Police Chief Fixed Communication, Boosted Visibility, and Changed the Culture
Patrol work hasn’t changed—but the expectations on officers have. See how one police chief helped officers get the right information at the right time, improve patrol visibility, and strengthen trust without adding complexity or surveillance. This real-world story shows how patrol-driven technology can make the job safer, smarter, and more effective—starting on day one.
Read More →
Sponsored•March 2, 2026
Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty
What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.
Read More →
K-9s Play a Critical Role in Finding Missing Persons
Real-world scenarios show that a tracking canine can detect and follow a human track several hours after it was made.
Read More →
Garmont Tactical’s LE Boot Lineup
In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.
Read More →
Avon Protection Launches EXOSKIN-S2 High-Performance CBRN Protective Suit
With the commercial availability of Avon Protection’s EXOSKIN-S2, users now have increased options for their protective suit requirements across the spectrum of CBRN threat environments.
Read More →
Versaterm Acquires Aloft to Unlock a New Era of Drones for Public Safety
Versaterm has acquired Aloft, an FAA-approved Unmanned Service Supplier (USS) that specializes in real-time airspace intelligence and flight authorizations.
Read More →