Ralph M. Griffin

Anniston Police Department — Anniston, AL

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch June 19, 1954

Age 45

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

The Vigil Panel 90 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 14

Incident

Police Officer Ralph Griffin was killed when he was stabbed while working an off-duty security job at the Anniston Speedway. Officer Griffin was breaking up a fight between two teenagers. As he struggled with the 18-year-old, the man's brother walked up behind him and stabbed him three times. The suspect, age 29, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on October 28, 1954. He was paroled on November 6, 1963. Officer Griffin was a United States Navy reserve veteran and had served with the Anniston Police Department for over 12 years. He is survived by his wife, son, three daughters, and two granddaughters. Anniston Speedway closed in 1972.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, son, three daughters, and two granddaughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-C311D370
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Ralph is one person.

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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.
Police Officer Griffin gave the Anniston Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Anniston community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Anniston Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Anniston, Calhoun County, AL

Platform Identity apd.calhoun.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 19, 1954

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon

Military Service

Ralph M. Griffin served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer Ralph 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 97,756 officers honored here.

In AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 63 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Anniston Police Department, 13 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 86.7% of this agency's fallen.

Anniston Police Department

of 15 officers

86.7% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious