United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Monday, November 30, 1981
Age: 34
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 30, 1981
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Not available
Customs Officer George Spencer was shot and killed when two men attempted to rob him of his vehicle in front of 109-69 200th Street in Queens, New York.
He had just finished his shift at Kennedy Airport and had stopped to visit a friend when his car alarm activated. He went outside and was confronted by two men, one of whom was armed. The armed subject fired at Officer Spencer, who then drew his off-duty weapon and chased the man into a nearby alley. The two exchanged shots and Officer Spencer was fatally wounded.
Officer Spencer was a U.S. Army veteran and had served as a military policeman for two years. He had served with the Customs Service for five years and had served as a police officer in his native St. Vincent, West Indies, prior to immigrating to the United States and enlisting in the Army. He was survived by his wife and child.