William Blea Grijalva
Agency patch
Officer

William Blea Grijalva

Oakland Police Department — Oakland, CA
Felonious
End of Watch December 15, 1993
Age 41
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Badge 395
The Vigil Panel 139 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer William Grijalva was shot and killed in the 3900 block of Lyon Avenue after responding to a call for assistance by animal control officers trying to take a vicious pit bull into custody. The owner was resisting their efforts. When Officer Grijalva arrived on the scene he and several other officers tried to take the dog owner into custody. The man broke away from them, ran into his house, and fired a shotgun at them. Officer Grijalva was wounded in the chest and leg, despite wearing body armor, and died in surgery that afternoon. The suspect was shot and killed by other officers at the scene. Officer Grijalva had served with the Oakland Police Department for 20 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, brother, and sister.

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

20 years. You could have gone home.
Officer Grijalva gave the Oakland Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Oakland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Grijalva.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Oakland, Alameda County, CA
Platform Identity opd.alameda.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 15, 1993
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 41
Badge Number 395
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 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 1993, 101 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 51st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 41. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Oakland Police Department has 54 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer William Blea Grijalva

Oakland Police Department · End of Watch December 15, 1993

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 34-W

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