James Spencer

Breathitt County Constable's Office — Jackson, KY

Felonious

End of Watch January 29, 1927

Age 43

The Vigil Panel 52 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Constable Jim Spencer was shot and killed in Jackson, Kentucky, after ejecting three brothers from a restaurant for acting disorderly.

After ejecting them he was called to another restaurant where he ejected them again. As Constable Spencer struck up a conversation with some of the patrons the three entered and one shot him in the head.

All three brothers, 18, 22, and 24, were arrested and charged with murder. Charges were dropped against one. The gunman was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. Two years later his sentence was commuted to 10 years. The third suspect was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years. He was paroled on June 24, 1931.

Constable Spencer was survived by his expectant wife and daughter.

Constable Spencer's brother, Constable Henry Spencer, succeeded him in office and was shot and mortally in the line of duty wounded on October 29th, 1927. Constable Henry Spencer died from his wounds on November 2nd, 1927.

Survivors

Constable Spencer was survived by his expectant wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-231D5605
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.
Constable Spencer served with the Breathitt County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Jackson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Spencer.

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

Agency

Department Breathitt County Constable's Office

Location Jackson, KY

Platform Identity bcco.mercer.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 29, 1927

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to 10 years

Constable James 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Breathitt County Constable's Office, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Breathitt County Constable's Office

of 5 officers

100% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious