Deputy Sheriff Earl Griffith

Earl Griffith

Deputy Sheriff Earl Griffith was shot and killed when he and his partner stopped to investigate a parked car on the Purdy Highway (U.S. Route 395), a few hundred yards over the Nevada - California border in Sierra County, California.

The deputies were investigating the car after two service stations had been robbed in Susanville earlier in the evening. Around 11:15 p.m., Deputy Griffith was shot when he ordered one of the men out of the car while his partner searched a juvenile in the passenger seat. His partner was also wounded in the shootout. The two suspects then fled the scene but were apprehended a short time later.

The suspect who killed Deputy Griffith was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in Folsom Prison. On October 11th, 1949, he stabbed a fellow inmate to death. He was convicted of first-degree murder and executed in the gas chamber on February 8th, 1957.

Deputy Griffith was a United States Army WWI veteran and had served with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office for at least 7 years. He was survived by his three sons.

Deputy Griffith is buried at Roseville Public Cemetary District in Roseville, Placer County in California.