Roll of Honor

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Captain

Earl H. Grimes

Athol Police Department — Athol, MA

Felonious

End of Watch April 13, 1937

Age 46

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

The Vigil Panel 73 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Captain Grimes was shot and killed after he and another officer were dispatched to investigate a suspicious man begging money from children at a deserted shack near a set of railroad tracks. The suspect opened fire on them with a 12-gauge shotgun as they approached. The other officer returned fire killing the suspect, an ex-convict. Captain Grimes had served with the Athol Police Department for 14 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-6B5AA542
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Captain Grimes gave the Athol Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Athol community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Grimes.

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

Agency

Department Athol Police Department

Location Athol, MA

Platform Identity athopd.worcester.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 13, 1937

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge

Offender Shot and killed

Captain Earl H. Grimes 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 MA, 199 of 469 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.4% of this state's fallen. That is 11.8 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

Athol Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Earl H. Grimes's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Earl H. Grimes Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Earl H. Grimes is highlighted in Apr.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Earl H. Grimes was killed by shotgun; 12 gauge.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518