Officer Betty Griffin Retiring
Art Allen
Officer Betty Griffin Retiring
Officer Betty Griffin is retiring on March 1 after 33-1/2 years of distinguished service to the United States Park Police. Betty has been a pioneer on the Force, in the police community, and the public. Her work and commitment have helped African Americans and women break through barriers to reach their full potential.
Betty grew up in Long Island, New York, and South Carolina. After graduating high school, she was selected to be part of Sargent Shriver’s Job Corps and moved to Huntington, West Virginia. While there, she was selected to go to Washington, DC, to train at a government agency for the Job Corps. She finished her commitment and then attended the University of Maryland before taking a job at the Prince George’s County Hospital working in the emergency room as a medical receptionist.
It was while she worked at the hospital that she was recruited to apply for the United States Park Police by a Park Police officer who had come to the hospital while on duty. She was hired and began her career on August 18, 1974, attending the Consolidated Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Washington, DC. After graduating, she field trained at the Anacostia Station and then she was assigned to the Central District patrolling the National Mall. After 18 months she was reassigned to the Visitors Center at Union Station until it was closed in 1983.
In 1983 she transferred to the Anacostia Station, which was then located at what is now the Aquatic Education Center in Anacostia Park. The Anacostia Operations Facility was converted for U.S. Park Police use in the late 80’s, and when the Anacostia Station moved in, Betty helped establish a desk officer position to process prisoners and handle Station duties. As technology progressed over the years, she became the primary coordinator and instructor for Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) and assisted in instructing the Washington Area Law Enforcement System (WALES) for the Force. Betty remained at the Anacostia Station until her retirement. Over the years, she has taken many officers under her wing to help guide, support, and pass on her knowledge and wisdom. Her contributions and many years have made her an iconic figure at the Anacostia Station.
Betty became a hostage negotiator for the Force in 1984. She is a member of the Metropolitan Area Crisis Negotiators Association. She had the opportunity to utilize her skills in 1997 when a man threatening to throw a child off the Sousa Bridge was intercepted by the Metropolitan Police. They began negotiations and Betty responded to help support negotiations with the suspect. Through the negotiators' efforts, the man and the child were safely taken into protective custody.
Over her career Betty has had the opportunity to be part of many nationally significant events. In the summer of 1979, she was part of the U.S. Park Police community relations unit and traveled to Brockport, New York, for the International Special Olympics, assisting the Washington, DC, team. In 1980, during the Cuban Refugee Crisis, she was one of a contingent of U.S. Park Police officers detailed to Fort Chafee, Arkansas, to provide police services on the compound during the processing of the Cuban refugees. During the inaugurations of President Ronald Reagan in 1981 and President George H.W. Bush in 1989, she provided security to ceremonies at the Kennedy Center. In 1992 Betty was scheduled to attend the International Association of Women Police in Miami, Florida, when Hurricane Andrew struck a devastating blow to the city. Instead of cancelling the event, Betty and the other members went to Miami and provided relief support to the residents of the area. Finally, in 1996 she was selected to supervise and coordinate 250 volunteer police officers during the Centennial Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
Betty has been a strong advocate and supporter of many organizations that help promote women and African Americans. She is a founding member of the National Organization of Black Women in Law Enforcement, which was created in 1985 with the mission of furthering the hiring, training, retention, and promotion of females in law enforcement. She is also a member of Women in Federal Law Enforcement, the International Association of Women in Police, and the Georgia Women in Law Enforcement. Finally, Betty is cofounder of Passports To College Incorporated, which helps Washington, DC, area high school students visit college campuses. Her work with these groups and through her career with the U.S. Park Police has helped break many of the glass ceilings for women and African Americans. Her fight for justice and equality has helped those who have followed after her to reach their full potential.
During her career, Betty has been recognized many times for her dedication to duty. In addition to the many U.S. Park Police awards, she has been formally recognized by the United States Secret Service, the Department of Treasury, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and by the Director of Security for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
Betty intends to enjoy life in retirement. The full impact of her sacrifices and dedication to helping African Americans and women, law enforcement, and the community cannot be fully realized in a short biography. Fortunately, she has touched many lives of those who have had the joy of knowing her and for those who have unknowingly benefited from her struggles.
Betty has always lived her life in the spirit of the following quote:
You see things; and you say ‘why’
But I dream things that never
were;
And I say ‘Why not ‘
George Bernard
Shaw
Contact Information
Name: Robert
LaChance