Clifford Joseph Grogan, Sr

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections — Mechanicsburg, PA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch November 12, 1965

Age 37

Tour of Duty 8 yrs 9 mo

The Vigil Panel 101 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 17

Incident

Correctional Officer Clifford Grogan was stabbed to death after coming to the aid of a fellow officer who was being attacked in the Western Penitentiary. He was just finishing up his shift when he observed the attack at approximately 3:15 pm. When he attempted to pull the inmate off of the other guard he slipped and went down on one knee. The inmate then started attacking and stabbing him with a 10-inch shank, striking him in the heart. The other guard suffered serious injuries but recovered. Despite being stabbed, Officer Grogan continued to struggle with the suspect and was able to subdue him. Officer Grogan passed out from a loss of blood and succumbed to the stab wounds. The 26-year-old inmate was serving a 30 to 60-year sentence for convictions of armed robbery, several burglaries, and purse snatchings. The judge, who sentenced him in 1962, called him a "mad dog." He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on November 2nd, 1966. On June 24th, 1967, he was executed in the electric chair. Officer Grogan was a U.S Navy veteran of WWII and had served with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections for seven years.

Survivors

He is survived by his expectant wife, and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-BDD7042B
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.
Correctional Officer Grogan gave the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

Location Mechanicsburg, PA

Platform Identity pdcorr.cumberland.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 12, 1965

Tour of Duty 8 yrs 9 mo

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Shank

Offender Executed in 1967

Military Service

Clifford Joseph Grogan, Sr served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Correctional Officer Clifford Joseph Grogan, Sr 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, 13 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.2% of this agency's fallen.

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

of 18 officers

72.2% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious