Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy William Spencer succumbed to complications from a gunshot wound sustained two days earlier when he was shot while attempting to arrest a horse thief.
He and another deputy located the suspect at Fort Spokane. As Deputy Spencer called out to the man to place him under arrest the man suddenly spun around and opened fire, fatally wounding Deputy Spencer. Both deputies returned fire, killing the suspect.
Deputy Spencer underwent surgery to have this arm amputated, but died from complications two days after being shot.
Deputy Spencer was survived by his wife and one child.
Survivors
Deputy Spencer was survived by his wife and one child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-8FB365AB- 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
134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Spencer served with the Whitman County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Colfax community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William B. Spencer is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In WA, 187 of 340 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55% of this state's fallen. That is 55 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Whitman County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William B. Spencer's cause is highlighted.
How William B. Spencer Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William B. Spencer is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William B. Spencer was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Whitman County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
