Roll of Honor

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Officer

Terry Lynn Griffith

Christiansburg Police Department — Christiansburg, VA

Felonious

End of Watch September 18, 1994

Age 37

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

Badge 41

The Vigil Panel 140 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Officer Griffith was shot and killed as he tried to arrest a man suspected of shoplifting. The suspect began to struggle with Officer Griffith, gained control of his service weapon, and shot him in the head. The suspect was shot and killed by other officers.

Survivors

Officer Griffith had been with the agency for 17 years and is survived by his wife, son, two daughters and two step-sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-8B4DD46C
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 Griffith gave the Christiansburg Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Christiansburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Griffith.

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

Agency

Department Christiansburg Police Department

Location Christiansburg, VA

Platform Identity cpd.montgomery.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 18, 1994

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

Age 37

Badge Number 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Shot and killed

Officer Terry Lynn Griffith 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 VA, 395 of 654 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 Christiansburg Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Christiansburg Police Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 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. Terry Lynn Griffith'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 Terry Lynn Griffith Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Terry Lynn Griffith is highlighted in Sep.

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. Terry Lynn Griffith was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Christiansburg Police Department are honored on badge.nw.