Correctional Officer Fred Sidney Griffis, a 40-year-old white male, was tragically killed on June 24, 1987, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Officer Griffis was shot during an escape attempt while transporting a prisoner. The incident occurred in front of a doctor's office on North Olive Avenue, near Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard. Griffis, along with an armed escort officer, was ambushed by two armed suspects who demanded the keys to the prison van to free an inmate.
Despite the threat, Griffis refused to comply and tossed the keys away, leading to him being shot multiple times by one of the suspects.
The suspects, William Van Poyck and Frank Valdes, were both apprehended after a dramatic chase involving multiple police cars. Van Poyck, who fired the fatal shots, was sentenced to death and was executed on June 12, 2013. Valdes, also sentenced to death, died in prison on July 17, 1999, from injuries sustained during a fight with guards. The inmate they attempted to free, James J. O'Brien, was serving a life sentence for second-degree murder at the time of the escape attempt.
Officer Griffis was a decorated U.S. Army veteran who had served three tours in the Vietnam War, earning multiple awards for bravery, including four Bronze Stars and three Oak Leaf clusters. He had been working at the Glades Correctional Institution for only three weeks after retiring from the military. His courageous actions during the escape attempt were widely recognized, and he was remembered for his dedication and heroism. The incident led to significant legal proceedings, with both suspects facing the ultimate penalty for their roles in the murder of Officer Griffis.
