James M. Griffin
Agency patch
Probationary Police Officer

James M. Griffin

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
End of Watch March 21, 1913
Age 28
The Vigil Panel 27 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Probationary Police Officer James Griffin succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained a week earlier while interviewing a man off-duty near the intersection of Jones Street and Grand River Avenue. Officer Griffin was on his way home when he witnessed a man he thought was acting disorderly in an alleyway. As he was questioning the man he was shot in his stomach by an unknown assailant from behind a wall that bordered a restaurant. Officer Griffin was taken to St. Mary's Hospital where he succumbed to his gunshot wound a week later.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-6B058500
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Probationary Police Officer Griffin served with the Detroit Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Probationary Police Officer Griffin.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Detroit, Wayne County, MI
Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 21, 1913
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Not available

Probationary Police Officer James M. 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 MI, 426 of 719 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.2% of this state's fallen. That is 59.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Detroit Police Department, 177 of 250 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.8% of this agency's fallen.

Detroit Police Department
177
of 250 officers
70.8% Felonious
MI — Statewide
426
of 719 officers
59.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James M. Griffin's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How James M. Griffin Compares

Age at Death
28
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James M. Griffin is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James M. Griffin was killed by not available.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location