Forrest Ferrell Spencer
Agency patch
Trooper

Forrest Ferrell Spencer

Illinois State Police — Springfield, IL
Accident
End of Watch October 27, 1946
Age 43
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 83 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Forrest Spencer was struck and killed by a vehicle while investigating an accident near Olmstead, Illinois. Trooper Spencer was standing on the side of the road when a vehicle smashed into a crowd, killing him and three bystanders. The driver was arrested and charged with manslaughter. Trooper Spencer had served with the Illinois State Police for 18 months.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

You barely got started.
Trooper Spencer gave the Illinois State Police 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Spencer.

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

Agency

Type State Police
Location Springfield, Sangamon County, IL
Platform Identity ilsp.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 27, 1946
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
Age 43
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Forrest is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1946, 63 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 68th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Forrest was 43. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Forrest had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Illinois State Police has 67 officers remembered here, Forrest among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Trooper Forrest Ferrell Spencer

Illinois State Police · End of Watch October 27, 1946

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 26-E

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