Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff McGriff was shot and killed at 8 p.m. as he and a group of law enforcement officers, including several deputies attempted to arrest an escaped mental patient. The armed suspect had returned to his home and his family wanted him removed. During the shootout a deputy was injured and both the suspect and Sheriff McGriff were killed. Sheriff McGriff had served in law enforcement for 24 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four adult children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-4A0ED2A1- 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
24 years. You could have gone home.
Sheriff McGriff gave the Story County Sheriff's Department 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Nevada community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff McGriff.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Charles Vernon McGriff 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 IA, 129 of 226 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Vernon McGriff's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Vernon McGriff Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Vernon McGriff is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Vernon McGriff was killed by gun; unknown type.