In the line of duty, Officer Gerald F. Griffin, a 29-year-old male, made the ultimate sacrifice on November 6, 1979. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps who had served in the Vietnam War and been awarded a Purple Heart, Griffin had been with the Indianapolis Police Department for seven and a half years. On that fateful evening, he was the first to respond to a domestic disturbance call in the 4700 block of North 36th Street.
Upon his arrival and as he approached the residence, a
man inside opened fire. Officer Griffin was fatally wounded, and two other officers who arrived at the scene were also injured. Before the officers had even reached the house, the suspect had already killed his 27-year-old former wife and her 54-year-old father, and had wounded her 53-year-old mother. The gunman then barricaded himself inside the home, leading to a standoff that lasted for nearly two hours before he surrendered to authorities.
The suspect, a 48-year-old man, was taken into custody and subsequently charged with three counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and three counts of armed confinement. Justice was pursued through the legal system, and he was sentenced to death in 1980 and again in 2000. While awaiting his execution, the man who tragically cut short the life of a dedicated officer and devastated a family died in prison in 2006. Officer Griffin, who was killed just four days before his 30th birthday, was survived by his wife and three young daughters, aged 19 months, four, and seven years old.
