On November 21, 1971, at approximately 6:15 a.m., Officer Joe Douglas Spiers and his partner, Officer David West, affected the arrest of Marjorie Bral for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.  Bral was an elderly female with her leg in a cast.  Following her arrest, the officers displayed compassion for her circumstances, and failed to handcuff her during transport.  One block before reaching the police department, Bral produced a handgun which was concealed in her cast and shot Officer  Spiers in the back of the head.  Officer Spiers was twenty-three years old at the time of his death and had previously served in the United States Navy where he had earned two Purple Heart medals during his tour of duty in Vietnam.  Officer Spiers was survived by his wife and two sons.

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