Maria Michelle Groves
Agency patch
Officer

Maria Michelle Groves

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX
Felonious
End of Watch April 10, 1987
Age 22
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Badge 4292
The Vigil Panel 132 ›
Gender Female

Incident

Officer Maria Groves was struck and killed by a drunk driver while she was setting out a flare pattern at the scene of a crash in the 10600 block of Katy Freeway (I-10) eastbound. The driver of the vehicle was arrested at the scene. The driver was convicted of involuntary manslaughter at his second trial and sentenced to ten years. He was released on parole after only serving two years. Officer Groves served with the Houston Police Department for two years.

Survivors

She was survived by her father and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Groves gave the Houston Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Groves.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Houston, Harris County, TX
Platform Identity hpd.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 10, 1987
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 22
Badge Number 4292
Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Maria is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1987, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Maria was 22. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Maria had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where she stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

Her people

Houston Police Department has 117 officers remembered here, Maria among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Maria Michelle Groves

Houston Police Department · End of Watch April 10, 1987

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 13-E

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