More than 1,600 people have donated to an online fundraiserfor the San Luis Obispo Police Department officer killed while serving a search warrant the evening of May 10 – raising more than $226,000 in fewer than 24 hours.
TheSan Luis Obispo Police Officers Associationand the SLO Regional SWAT organized the GoFundMe and said all money raised will go to Officer Luca Benedetti’s family.
The GoFundMe page reads, “This is every law enforcement family’s worst nightmare realized. In moments like these there are absolutely no words to convey the sorrow felt in the hearts of the Benedetti family, friends and law enforcement community.”
The page goes on to give insight into Benedetti’s life including that he “loved cooking, organic gardening and displayed his Italian heritage proudly around his neck.”
Benedetti leaves behind a wife and two young daughters.
According to the GoFundMe, Benedetti was born and raised in the Bay Area, and joined the Atascadero Police Department in 2008. He then joined the San Luis Obispo Police Department in 2012.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the top donation on the GoFundMe was $8,000 from an anonymous donor.