On March 6, 1979, Cincinnati Police Officer Dennis E. Bennington, 31, was fatally shot during a felony traffic stop on Oak Street near Reading Road. Bennington and his partner, Officer Robert Seiffert, were confronting Gregory Daniels, wanted on an aggravated robbery warrant, when Daniels produced a .38 caliber revolver. Daniels shot Bennington in the chest as Bennington approached from the side and also fired over his shoulder while getting back into his car, striking Seiffert in the head as he dove for cover.

Despite a catastrophic chest wound that tore away the top of his heart, Officer Bennington returned fire and fatally wounded Daniels. Both officers were taken to a local hospital; Bennington died of his wounds, and Officer Seiffert also later died. Bennington had served 9.5 years with the department and was survived by a wife, two children, and his parents. The incident helped prompt changes to department procedures, including a two-patrol policy to improve officer safety.