Story County Sheriff's Department, Iowa
End of Watch: Monday, October 20, 1941
Age: 59
Tour of Duty: 24 years
Badge Number: 85-1
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 20, 1941
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Sheriff McGriff was shot and killed at 8 p.m. as he and a group of law enforcement officers, including several deputies attempted to arrest an escaped mental patient. The armed suspect had returned to his home and his family wanted him removed.
During the shootout a deputy was injured and both the suspect and Sheriff McGriff were killed.
Sheriff McGriff had served in law enforcement for 24 years. He was survived by his wife and four adult children.