Sgt. Michael Griffin, an officer with the Columbus Police Department, has died.
After suffering a stroke and undergoing surgery over the last few months, Griffin passed away at his Okolona home Thursday about 2:15 a.m., according to Rhonda Sanders, community relations officer with CPD.
Griffin had been with CPD since 2009, according to interim police chief Fred Shelton. He worked as a patrolman, investigator and instructor and was promoted to corporal in 2013 and sergeant in 2014. He was the commander of B Shift, Shelton said.
Shelton described Griffin as duty-bound and dependable. Griffin always kept a cool head, even in stressful situations, and made sure to get things done when they needed to be done, he said.
He will be missed at CPD.
“He kept people smiling,” Shelton said.
Shelton said that in addition to martial arts, Griffin liked teaching. Shelton added that Griffin was “very fond of his new grandbaby.”
Griffin lived in Okolona with his wife, Roseanne. Griffin also has two sons, Tim and Carl, and a daughter, Keiko, Sanders said.
Before working for CPD, Griffin worked for other police departments in the state, including the Aberdeen Police Department. Before becoming a police officer, Griffin served in the Marine Corps from 1976-1982.
Griffin was one of two CPD officers whose families were to receive money from the Halloween fundraiser set up by CPD and Columbus Fire & Rescue. On Oct. 30-31, the two departments opened a haunted house and held activities for the community at Trotter Center to raise money for injured and ill first responders. Griffin’s family received $5,000 from the funds raised.
CPD had plans to formally present a large ceremonial check to Griffin at the Columbus City Council meeting on Tuesday. The department will now present the check and several other gifts and goodies to Griffin’s family at the meeting, Sanders said.
Sanders is glad that at least Griffin knew about the fundraiser and the money and knew the department and the community were helping to look out for him and his family.
“The good thing is, we were all able to show him that we love him, the fire department and police department,” Sanders said. “We were able to go out and work on this fundraiser and show him that we love him and to just support him during the time that he was in need. So at least he knew that we did that for him.”
Griffin’s funeral will be held at Union Grove Baptist Church in Weir at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21.
Ball Funeral Home has made arrangements.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.