Roll of Honor
James V. Spignesi Jr.
Incident
Conservation Officer Jim Spignesi was shot and killed while checking for suspected illegal deer hunting in a private field near the intersection of Palmer Road and Pudding Hill Road in Scotland, Connecticut. Officer Spignesi was with another officer when he was struck by a round from a high-powered rifle. His partner arrested the suspected shooter, an off-duty state corrections officer, who claimed the shooting was an accident. The suspect was thought to be hunting illegally after dark when the incident took place. The suspect was found not guilty as there was no clear way to prove when he fired the fatal shot. Officer Spignesi had served with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection for eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his father, three brothers, and his sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CT-FE54FC01- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Conservation Officer Spignesi gave the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hartford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Conservation Officer Spignesi.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Conservation Officer James V. Spignesi Jr. 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 97,772 officers honored here.
In CT, 74 of 169 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.8% of this state's fallen. That is 43.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James V. Spignesi Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How James V. Spignesi Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James V. Spignesi Jr. is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James V. Spignesi Jr. was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection are honored on badge.nw.