William L. Griffin
Agency patch
Sergeant

William L. Griffin

Jacksonville Police Department — Jacksonville, FL
Felonious
End of Watch July 29, 1967
The Vigil Panel 102 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Griffin was shot and killed during a burglary stakeout.

Sergeant Griffin and another officer were in a darkened home that they understood was to be burglarized. The other officer mistakenly shot him as he came around a corner responding to a broken window.

Four men were detained and one was charged with murder because it happened during the commission of a crime.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-B80E3989
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Griffin served with the Jacksonville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Griffin.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Jacksonville, FL
Platform Identity jpd.duval.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 29, 1967
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Sergeant William L. 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Jacksonville Police Department, 25 of 33 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75.8% of this agency's fallen.

Jacksonville Police Department
25
of 33 officers
75.8% Felonious
FL — Statewide
539
of 1,008 officers
53.5% 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. William L. Griffin's cause is highlighted.

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

How William L. Griffin Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William L. Griffin is highlighted in Jul.

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. William L. Griffin was killed by gun.

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