Ben Luna
Ben earned national attention and local recognition for his actions as a Duncanville police officer on the first Saturday in January. Ben could have sparked an incident reminiscent of what happened last year in Ferguson, Mo., but didn’t shoot when confronted with what appeared to be a young man with a pistol. The young man was carrying a BB gun that looked remarkably like a real gun. “I could have used deadly force, all within policy,” Ben said. “I’m glad I didn’t have to.” Ben’s cool-headed actions were soon publicized on local television, which led to national TV and thank-yous delivered to Ben from across the country. He joined our council early last year, soon after he and wife Renee went through Holy Spirit’s RCIA program. That was something that the Lunas had planned for years. They’ve been married for 20 years, meeting at Mesquite High during Ben’s senior year. They have one child, 19-year-old Sayla, who graduated from Red Oak High in 2014 and now attends Palm Beach State College in Florida. Ben was born in Illinois and moved to Texas while in elementary school. He has been with the Duncanville Police Department for 16 years. Renee is a nurse and is studying to become a nurse practitioner.