George J. Spencer
Agency patch
Customs Officer

George J. Spencer

Felonious Veteran
End of Watch November 30, 1981
Age 34
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
The Vigil Panel 125 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Customs Officer George Spencer was shot and killed when two men attempted to rob him of his vehicle in front of 109-69 200th Street in Queens, New York. He had just finished his shift at Kennedy Airport and had stopped to visit a friend when his car alarm activated. He went outside and was confronted by two men, one of whom was armed. The armed subject fired at Officer Spencer, who then drew his off-duty weapon and chased the man into a nearby alley. The two exchanged shots and Officer Spencer was fatally wounded. Officer Spencer was a U.S. Army veteran and had served as a military policeman for two years. He had served with the Customs Service for five years and had served as a police officer in his native St. Vincent, West Indies, prior to immigrating to the United States and enlisting in the Army.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-1C0BB3EA
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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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.
Customs Officer Spencer gave the United States Department of the Treasury 10 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtuscsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 30, 1981
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Not available

Military Service

George J. Spencer served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Customs Officer George J. Spencer is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service, 47 of 94 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service
47
of 94 officers
50% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,419 officers
53.1% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How George J. Spencer Compares

Age at End of Watch
34
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
10
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Not available

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George J. Spencer is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George J. Spencer was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location