In the winter of 1981, a tragic event unfolded in the small town of Trenton, Missouri, forever marking the community. Mark Wayne Griffin, a 23-year-old male deputy sheriff for Grundy County, lost his life in the line of duty on Friday, January 30th. He had been a dedicated member of the sheriff's office for over two years, having joined in June of 1978.
On that fateful day, Deputy Griffin and another deputy, Deputy Altes, were dispatched to a Trenton apartment on Seventh Street. They were there to question a man concerning a disturbance that had occurred earlier. Upon their arrival, the man they sought to question asked if he could retrieve a coat before accompanying them to the jail. As the two deputies followed him into the apartment, the situation took a sudden and violent turn. A second man inside the residence unexpectedly opened fire with a rifle, striking Deputy Griffin in the face and killing him instantly.
The assailant then fired upon Deputy Altes, hitting him in the shoulder. Despite his injury, Deputy Altes managed to retreat to a nearby car dealership where he called for assistance before returning to the scene. A manhunt for the shooter ensued, and approximately six hours later, a suspect was apprehended. The community was left to mourn the loss of a young officer who was survived by his parents and a sister.
