Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Benjamin Grair was shot and killed as he moonlighted as a uniformed security guard at a local bank. As he talked on the phone at the bank, a person in line walked over to him, shot him, then robbed the bank. Patrolman Grair was transported to the Euclid General Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds at 10:58 am. A tip from an alert security guard led to the arrest of the 20-year-old suspect a short time later. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death, but the governor commuted his sentence to life with no parole. As of 2021, he was in the Mansfield Correctional Institution. Patrolman Grair had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for two years and previously served as a patrolman with the Cleveland State University for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-686A8232- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Grair gave the Cleveland Division of Police 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Grair.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Benjamin F. Grair, Jr. is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Cleveland Division of Police, 83 of 119 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Benjamin F. Grair, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Benjamin F. Grair, Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Benjamin F. Grair, Jr. is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Benjamin F. Grair, Jr. was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
118 officers from Cleveland Division of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
