Bobby Gene Spencer
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Bobby Gene Spencer

Shannon Police Department — Shannon, MS
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch January 18, 1997
Age 58
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
The Vigil Panel 143 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief Bobby Spencer was shot and killed from ambush while walking into the police department building at approximately 4:45 am before ending his shift.

His body was found by two officers a short time later who initially presumed he had suffered from a heart attack.

No suspects or motives for his murder have ever been determined, and the case remains open.

Chief Spencer was a United States Korean War Air Force veteran and had served as the Chief of Police for the Shannon Police Department for 20 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, daughter, and granddaughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-79A99F0A
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Bobby. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Bobby is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Chief of Police Spencer gave the Shannon Police Department 23 years.
Thank you for your service to the Shannon community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Shannon, Lee County, MS
Platform Identity spd.lee.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 18, 1997
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
Age 58
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Military Service

Bobby Gene Spencer served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Chief of Police Bobby Gene Spencer is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 69.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Shannon Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
MS — Statewide
242
of 349 officers
69.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Bobby Gene Spencer's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Bobby Gene Spencer Compares

Age at Death
58
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
23
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Bobby Gene Spencer is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

Bobby Gene Spencer served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.

Visit Bobby Gene Spencer’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Shannon Police Department are honored on badge.nw.