Kenneth Lee Spencer, Jr.

Birmingham Police Department — Birmingham, AL

Felonious

End of Watch July 13, 1969

Age 26

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

The Vigil Panel 105 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 48

Incident

Officer Spencer was shot and killed with his own service weapon while attempting to eject a man from a public swimming pool. The suspect became combative and a struggle ensued in which Officer Spencer's service revolver fell from its holster. The suspect picked up the weapon and shot Officer Spencer, killing him. The 21-year-old suspect was apprehended at a nearby home where he was sitting on the front porch with Officer Spencer's gun in his hand. A year later he was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life. In 1975 he received an additional year for escape. He was paroled on January 14, 1978.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-EC530E96
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

You barely got started.
Police Officer Spencer gave the Birmingham Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Spencer.

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

Agency

Department Birmingham Police Department

Type Other

Location Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL

Platform Identity birmpd.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 13, 1969

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Police Officer Kenneth Lee Spencer, Jr. is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 officers honored here.

In AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 9.1 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

At Birmingham Police Department, 34 of 49 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.

Birmingham Police Department

of 49 officers

69.4% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,587 officers

53.9% Felonious