Edward N. Griffitts

Loudon County Sheriff's Office — Lenoir City, TN

Felonious

End of Watch September 26, 1903

Age 25

The Vigil Panel 18 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Griffitts was shot and killed when he and another deputy went to arrest a man on a warrant for lewdness.

The two deputies went to a barn in Unitia, Tennessee, to arrest the suspect. When they arrived, they found the suspect and a woman on the second level of the barn. When Deputy Griffitts told the suspect he was under arrest, the suspect drew a large caliber handgun and opened fire. He struck Deputy Griffitts in the chest, killing him. A second shot struck the other deputy in the hip, seriously wounding him.

The 50-year-old suspect fled but was captured by a posse led by the Sheriff of Loudon County. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 20 years. He was pardoned on February 22nd, 1910, by Governor Malcolm R. Patterson.

Deputy Griffitts was survived by his father, brother, and fiancée.

Survivors

Deputy Griffitts was survived by his father, brother, and fiancée.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-C54E417A
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.
Deputy Sheriff Griffitts served with the Loudon County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Lenoir City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Griffitts.

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

Agency

Department Loudon County Sheriff's Office

Location Lenoir City, TN

Platform Identity lcso.loudon.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 26, 1903

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun; Pistol

Offender Pardoned in 1910

Deputy Sheriff Edward N. Griffitts 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Loudon County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Loudon County Sheriff's Office

of 6 officers

50% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious