Gerald F. "Jerry" Griffin

Indianapolis Police Dept. — Indianapolis, IN

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch November 6, 1979

Age 29

Tour of Duty 7 yrs 6 mo

Badge 2602

The Vigil Panel 122 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 58

Incident

Officer Gerald Griffin was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance in the 4700 block of North 36th Street. Upon the officer's arrival and approach to the residence, the suspect killed Officer Griffin and wounded two other officers before barricading himself within the house until surrendering nearly two hours later. Prior to their arrival, the suspect's former wife and her father had been killed and her mother wounded by the suspect in the residence. The suspect was charged with three counts each of murder, attempted murder and armed confinement. He was sentenced to death in 1980 and again in 2000, but while awaiting execution, he died in prison in 2006. Officer Griffin, who was killed four days before his 30th birthday, had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for 7-1/2 years. He was a US Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War and the recipient of a Purple Heart.

Survivors

Officer Griffin was survived by his wife, 19-month, 4- and 7-year-old daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-C0FAE6C6
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.
Officer Griffin gave the Indianapolis Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis Police Dept.

Location Indianapolis, IN

Platform Identity ipd.marion.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 6, 1979

Tour of Duty 7 yrs 6 mo

Age 29

Badge Number 2602

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Died in prison

Military Service

Gerald F. "Jerry" Griffin served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer Gerald F. "Jerry" 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 IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Indianapolis Police Dept., 38 of 59 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.4% of this agency's fallen.

Indianapolis Police Dept.

of 59 officers

64.4% Felonious

IN — Statewide

311

of 503 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious