Sam Griffin Lanford
Agency patch
Officer

Sam Griffin Lanford

Dallas Police Department — Dallas, TX
Felonious
End of Watch June 29, 1933
Age 42
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Badge 170
The Vigil Panel 66 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Griffin Lanford was shot and killed after he and his partner interrupted a burglary in the 2400 block of North Prarie Avenue. Officer Lanford was fatally shot by the burglar. His partner wounded the suspect, who was later arrested and executed. Officer Lanford had served with the Dallas Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, three brothers, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-2570123F
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Lanford gave the Dallas Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dallas community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Lanford.

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

Agency

Location Dallas, TX
Platform Identity dpd.dallas.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 29, 1933
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 42
Badge Number 170
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Executed

Officer Sam Griffin Lanford is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Dallas Police Department, 55 of 95 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.9% of this agency's fallen.

Dallas Police Department
55
of 95 officers
57.9% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,463
of 2,421 officers
60.4% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Sam Griffin Lanford Compares

Age at End of Watch
42
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
6
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Executed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sam Griffin Lanford is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Sam Griffin Lanford was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location