Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Wilbert H. Grubb

Buckhannon Police Department — Buckhannon, WV

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch April 21, 1940

Age 46

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 76 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman Grubb was shot and killed while investigating an attempted rape. When he arrived at the residence he was shot in the head by a shotgun blast fired through a window. The suspect shot him a second time as he lay on the ground. The suspect, driving a stolen car, was captured by a state trooper later in the day. He was convicted of first-degree murder and hanged on June 28, 1940. Patrolman Grubb, a WWI Army veteran, had served with the agency for two years and six months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-849EEC4B
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.
Patrolman Grubb gave the Buckhannon Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Buckhannon 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

Department Buckhannon Police Department

Location Buckhannon, WV

Platform Identity bpd.upshur.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 21, 1940

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Executed in 1940

Military Service

Wilbert H. Grubb served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Wilbert H. Grubb 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Buckhannon Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wilbert H. Grubb's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Wilbert H. Grubb Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

2.5

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Executed in 1940

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wilbert H. Grubb is highlighted in Apr.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Wilbert H. Grubb was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518