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Special Police Officer

Alexander Griffin

Newburyport Police Department — Newburyport, MA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch July 20, 1879

Age 58

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 6 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 3

Incident

Special Police Officer Alexander Griffin succumbed to injuries he received when he was assaulted on July 4, 1879, while attempting to break up a fight near Kent Street Park.

When Officer Griffin and another officer arrived on the scene and were attempting to arrest a subject, they were attacked and beaten by three men. One of the men jumped on him, and another subject kicked him in the head. Despite his injuries, he remained on duty that night. But the next night, while on duty, he collapsed. Officer Griffin became partially paralyzed and was in and out of consciousness until he died on July 20, 1879.

Two of the subjects were arrested and charged with manslaughter and assault. They were acquitted of manslaughter. One was sentenced to two years and the other one year for assault.

Officer Griffin was a Union Civil War veteran and had served with the Newburyport Police Department for two years and, in 1879, was serving as a special officer when needed.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-5EE3AEF2
Stewardship: 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Special Police Officer Griffin gave the Newburyport Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newburyport community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Newburyport Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Newburyport, Essex County, MA

Platform Identity newbpd.essex.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 20, 1879

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 58

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Person

Military Service

Alexander Griffin served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Special Police Officer Alexander Griffin is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In MA, 199 of 469 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.4% of this state's fallen. That is 42.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Newburyport Police Department, 1 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.

Newburyport Police Department

of 4 officers

25% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious