Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Groff was shot and killed while moonlighting at the apartment complex in which he lived on Midcrown Road. He had responded to a report of a disturbance at a unit and met San Antonio officers on the scene. They found that the suspect had left the scene and Deputy Groff informed the San Antonio officers he would handle the incident. After the officers left, the suspect returned to the scene and shot Deputy Groff in the chest, killing him. The suspect then shot and killed his girlfriend's grandmother, wounded his girlfriend, and then committed suicide. Deputy Groff was a veteran of WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. During his military service he was a recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Survivors
He had served with the Bexar County Sheriff's Department for 11 years and was survived by his daughter, six sons, and by his parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-0FB2932B- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Groff gave the Bexar County Sheriff's Office 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Antonio community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Elwood E. Groff served in the Army (1954â1957) before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Elwood E. Groff 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Bexar County Sheriff's Office, 10 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Elwood E. Groff's cause is highlighted.
How Elwood E. Groff Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Elwood E. Groff is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Elwood E. Groff was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Bexar County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
