Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Willard Griggs succumbed to a gunshot wound he sustained seven days earlier as he and a posse attempted to serve an eviction notice at a farm in Greenbush, New York.
The farmer and his family resisted the eviction and a shootout ensued in which Deputy Griggs was shot in the face. Several other deputies and posse members were also wounded, as well as members of the farmer's family.
Deputy Griggs underwent an operation to remove the bullet but died as a result of the wound seven days later.
Several members of the farmer's family were charged with Deputy Griggs' murder but acquitted at trial.
Deputy Griggs was survived by his wife and is buried at Sand Lake Union Cemetery, in Sand Lake, New York.
Survivors
Deputy Griggs was survived by his wife and is buried at Sand Lake Union Cemetery, in Sand Lake, New York.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-NY-8EB199DF- Stewardship
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
157 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Griggs gave the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Troy community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Willard Griggs 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Willard Griggs's cause is highlighted.
How Willard Griggs Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Willard Griggs is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Willard Griggs was killed by gun; unknown type.