"Heroes Live Forever" - the story of Riverside (CA) Police Officer Ryan P. Bonaminio

He served two tours in Iraq--then came home to serve Riverside. On a dark night in 2010, Ryan P. Bonaminio faced a violent fugitive alone and upheld his oath to protect and serve with his last breath.

Officer Ryan P. Bonaminio

McLean, VA (June 23, 2026) - On the night of November 7, 2010, Riverside (CA) Police Officer Ryan Patrick Bonaminio was doing what he had always done — serving his community with quiet professionalism and a warrior’s heart. At just 28 years old, Ryan had already lived a life defined by service. He spent four years as a military policeman in the United States Army, completing two tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. When he came home, he continued his service as a police officer in Riverside. On that tragic night, Ryan was responding to a hit-and-run involving a stolen tractor-trailer. When he located the suspect vehicle, he initiated a stop. The driver—a parolee with a long history of violent crime—fled. Ryan chased him on foot, but slipped on a muddy patch of ground. The suspect could have escaped, but chose instead to double back and strike Ryan repeatedly with a metal pipe. As Ryan stood with hands raised and said, “Don’t do it," the felon fired a fatal shot. His killer was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Ryan left behind his parents Joe and Gerri, his brother Christopher and his sister Nikki—a family who loved him deeply and who still carry the weight of that night. Ryan lived his life with purpose. He served his country in war, and he served his city in peace. He embodied the oath he swore — to protect the innocent, to confront danger, and to stand between his community and those who would harm it. And on that November night, he upheld that oath with his last breath. Listen to the podcast to learn the rest of the story: https://behindbadge.substack.com/p/heroes-live-forever-the-story-of-6f2