Benedetto M. Spizzirri

United States Postal Inspection Service — Arlington, VA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch March 14, 1960

Age 42

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 95 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 13

Incident

Investigative Aide Benedetto Spizzirri and Investigative Aide John McAuliffe were shot and killed in Chicago, Illinois, after arresting three men who had stolen two bags of mail from the Chicago Post Office loading dock. The two aides had been conducting a stakeout of the post office as the result of a recent rash of thefts. After observing the theft of the two bags of mail, the aides stopped the suspect's vehicle at the corner of Clark Street and Roosevelt Road and took the men into custody at gunpoint. After searching the three men, they were placed in the back of the government vehicle. One of the aides then attempted to move the suspect's vehicle out of the travel lane but could not get the car started. One of the three subjects offered to help get the car started and was allowed to assist. He reached under the dashboard, where he had hidden a gun, and slipped it into his shirt sleeve. The car was then started and moved out of the roadway. When the subject was again placed into the vehicle he drew the .32-caliber pistol and shot both aides in the back of the head, killing them both as they sat in the front of the vehicle. The three suspects fled but were later apprehended as the result of a joint task force effort to locate them. The suspect identified as the gunman, 37, was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On February 27, 1968, his sentence was commuted to two concurrent 120 year terms each. The two accomplices, 32 and 37, were sentenced to 199 years in prison. Investigative Aide Spizzirri had served with the United States Postal Inspection Service for eight years and was a World War II Army veteran and a Purple Heart recipient.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FED-45E72862
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.
Investigative Aide Spizzirri gave the United States Postal Inspection Service 8 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department United States Postal Inspection Service

Location Arlington, VA

Platform Identity uspis.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 14, 1960

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

Benedetto M. Spizzirri served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Investigative Aide Benedetto M. Spizzirri 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 VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At United States Postal Inspection Service, 6 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.

United States Postal Inspection Service

of 14 officers

42.9% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious