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Incident
Police Officer Gerald Griffin succumbed to injuries sustained ten days earlier when he was struck by a vehicle while conducting a radar speed check on Garnet Avenue, near Noyes Street, in Pacific Beach.
Officer Griffin had observed a speeding car and waved to the driver to pull over. The driver did not slow down and struck Officer Griffin. Officer Griffin was transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, where he died on April 25, 2003, from his injuries.
The driver of the vehicle that struck him was sentenced to one day of community service for each day of Officer Griffin's life.
Officer Griffin had served with the San Diego Police Department for 17 years and was assigned to the Traffic Division.
Survivors
Survivors include his 15-year-old daughter, parents, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Griffin gave the San Diego Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Diego community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Griffin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
San Diego Police Department has lost 38 officers; 8 of them lost to accidents.
Gerald is one of 720 officers lost to accidents in CA, 39.2% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Gerald is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Gerald is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2003, 1 officer at San Diego Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 2003, 10 officers in CA were lost to accidents, the 10th heaviest of 128 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 14.
In 2003, 80 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 27th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2003, 94 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 29th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Gerald was 42. Of the 8 lost to accidents at San Diego Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 37.3; the middle age was 33. Gerald had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 10 years.
Gerald was 42. Of the 690 lost to accidents in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 42.8; the middle age was 35. Gerald had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Gerald was 42. 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. Gerald had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Gerald was 42. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Gerald had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 12.5% of these deaths at San Diego Police Department; December holds the most, 25%. Fridays: 12.5%.
April holds 7.2% of these deaths in CA; August holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 13.9%.
April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 15.1%.
April holds 7% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15%.
How
Accident deaths account for 21.1% of all 38 deaths at San Diego Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 39.2% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
San Diego Police Department has 38 officers remembered here, Gerald among them.
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Emery E. Campbell
Aug 27, 1913
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Oliver S. Hopkins
Jul 2, 1915
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Walter B. Holcomb
Oct 21, 1918
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Joseph S. Lee
Mar 19, 1921
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Charles R. Harris
Apr 3, 1927
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Robert Lee Powers
Jun 16, 1928
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Robert B. McPherson
Sep 19, 1929
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Edward J. Moore
Jan 15, 1933
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Thomas Albert Keays
Nov 20, 1937
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Henry J. Goodrich
Sep 7, 1940
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Robert F. Bowers
Dec 12, 1955
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Harry Kay, Jr.
Mar 11, 1957
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Michael John Bushman
Nov 25, 1963
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Robert L. Everitt
Dec 7, 1964
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James P. Lewis
Dec 29, 1970
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Freddie Joel Edwards
Oct 7, 1971
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Denis W. Allen
Apr 2, 1977
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Archie Calvin Buggs
Nov 4, 1978
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Michael T. Anaya
Apr 11, 1979
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Dennis Glenn Gonzales
Jun 25, 1979
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Ronald R. Ebeltoft
Jun 6, 1981
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Harry Keith Tiffany
Jun 6, 1981
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Kirk Leland Johnson
Feb 20, 1983
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Kimberly Sue Tonahill
Sep 14, 1984
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Timothy J. Ruopp
Sep 16, 1984
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Thomas Edward Riggs
Mar 31, 1985
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Jerry Lee Hartless
Jan 31, 1988
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Ronald Wayne Davis
Sep 17, 1991
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Gerald Kieffer Griffin, Jr.
Apr 25, 2003
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Terry William Bennett
Jun 26, 2003
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Christopher Alan Wilson
Oct 28, 2010
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Jeremy Nicholas Henwood
Aug 7, 2011
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Jonathan Matias De Guzman
Jul 28, 2016
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Jason Paul Zdunich
Jun 10, 2019
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Daniel Gene Walters
Apr 23, 2020
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Ryan Park
Jun 4, 2021
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Jamie Huntley-Park
Jun 4, 2021
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Austin Machitar
Aug 26, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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