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Conservation Officer

James V. Spignesi, Jr.

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection — Hartford, CT

Felonious

End of Watch November 20, 1998

Age 45

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Badge 648

The Vigil Panel 145 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

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: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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

Department Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection

Location Hartford, CT

Platform Identity cdepfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 20, 1998

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 45

Badge Number 648

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Offender Acquitted

Conservation Officer James V. Spignesi, Jr. 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 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 10.4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

CT — Statewide

of 169 officers

43.8% 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. James V. Spignesi, Jr.'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 James V. Spignesi, Jr. Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Acquitted

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James V. Spignesi, Jr. 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. James V. Spignesi, Jr. was killed by rifle.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518