Roll of Honor

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Sergeant

John Spears

McComb Police Department — McComb, MS

Felonious

End of Watch January 2, 1976

Age 39

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 116 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Sergeant Spears was shot and killed by a man while responding to a domestic disturbance call involving the man and his wife. During a struggle with the suspect he managed to take Sergeant service revolver from him and shot him. On April 6, 1976 the male suspect, 47, was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. On April 17, 1979, a new trial was ordered but he was allowed to plead guilty of manslaughter before the trial began, and sentenced to 20 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MS-1C66A867
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.
Sergeant Spears gave the McComb Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the McComb community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Spears.

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

Agency

Department McComb Police Department

Location McComb, MS

Platform Identity mpd.pike.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 2, 1976

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's weapon

Offender Sentenced to 20 years

Sergeant John Spears 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 MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At McComb Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

McComb Police Department

of 3 officers

100% Felonious

MS — Statewide

242

of 349 officers

69.3% 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. John Spears'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 John Spears 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

Sentenced to 20 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Spears is highlighted in Jan.

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. John Spears was killed by officer's weapon.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from McComb Police Department are honored on badge.nw.