Henry Franklin "Frank" Griffin

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service — Washington, DC

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch October 6, 1872

Age 31

The Vigil Panel 4 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 312

Incident

Deputy Marshal Frank Griffin was shot and killed while searching a home two miles north of Tyler, Texas, for two brothers who had escaped from jail. The two had been arrested by the United States marshal for stealing cash from the United States mail system. After the brothers escaped a posse that included Deputy Marshal Griffin was formed to search for them. The posse went to the family home where they encountered their mother, who denied the men were there and refused to let the posse enter. The marshal was able to convince the mother to allow the home to be searched. As the marshal talked with the woman Deputy Marshal Griffin and other posse members began searching the rooms. As Deputy Marshal Griffin opened a door to a backroom he was shot in the chest by one of the men and killed instantly. The other officers retreated from the home. After several hours in which the men refused to surrender the home was set on fire, at which time they surrendered. The two brothers were convicted of Deputy Griffin's murder but their sentence is not known. Deputy Marshal Griffin was a Confederate Army veteran.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FED-36185C12
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 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.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Griffin served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 6, 1872

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Convicted of murder

Military Service

Henry Franklin "Frank" Griffin served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Henry Franklin "Frank" Griffin 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, 251 of 313 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80.2% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service

251

of 313 officers

80.2% Felonious

DC — Statewide

754

of 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious