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Adam Samuel Gibson
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Adam Gibson and K9 Riley were shot and killed in the parking lot of the Cal Expo and State Fair facility following a vehicle pursuit of a parolee.
Deputies noticed the subject and vehicle, which matched the description of one used in a recent burglary series, in a parking lot near Arden Way and Avondale Avenue. The deputies contacted the occupant and learned that he was on active parole. As they prepared to search the vehicle the man fled, leading deputies on a pursuit.
The vehicle became disabled when it entered the state fair parking lot at 1600 Exposition Boulevard and the man remained inside. Deputies used a bean bag round to break out the vehicle's back window so they could see inside. K9 Riley was then deployed through the window by his handler in an attempt to apprehend the subject. When K9 Riley was inside of the vehicle the man opened fire, fatally wounding both K9 Riley and Deputy Gibson. A second deputy was also shot and wounded.
Other deputies on scene returned fire and killed the subject.
Deputy Gibson was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department for six years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and 9-month-old child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtp2dfp2vfwjpfh0dxeeh- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Adam is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Gibson gave the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sacramento community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Adam Samuel Gibson served in the U.S. Marine Corps (2008â2012) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Sacramento County Sheriff's Office has lost 22 officers; 15 of them killed feloniously.
Adam is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Adam is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Adam is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2021, 1 officer at Sacramento County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 2021, 9 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 25th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 2021, 90 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 66th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2021, 92 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 69th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Adam was 31. Of the 15 killed feloniously at Sacramento County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 43.5; the middle age was 36. Adam had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Adam was 31. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Adam had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Adam was 31. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Adam had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Adam was 31. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Adam had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 13.3% of these deaths at Sacramento County Sheriff's Office; October holds the most, 20%. Mondays: 13.3%.
January holds 9% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 12.9%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 68.2% of all 22 deaths at Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
Sacramento County Sheriff's Office has 22 officers remembered here, Adam among them.
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Joseph McKinney
Aug 15, 1850
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Charles J. Ogle
Mar 12, 1951
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William L. Littlejohn
Jun 3, 1955
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Roger L. Bauman
Dec 12, 1961
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Kenneth B. Royal
Jun 7, 1968
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Bruce Roger Verhoeven
Dec 4, 1973
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Stewart Porter Baird
Jun 13, 1976
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Christopher W. Boone
Oct 25, 1979
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Eugene N. Luther
Apr 25, 1980
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Richard Earl Deffner
Jan 21, 1988
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Sandra Lee Larson
Dec 8, 1998
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Joseph Michael Kievernagel
Jul 13, 2005
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Kevin Patrick Blount
Jul 13, 2005
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Jeffrey Vaughn Mitchell
Oct 27, 2006
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Vu Nguyen
Dec 19, 2007
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Paul William DeRouen
Mar 29, 2008
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Lawrence Wilhelm Canfield
Nov 12, 2008
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Danny Paul Oliver
Oct 24, 2014
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Robert Allan French
Aug 30, 2017
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Mark V. Stasyuk
Sep 17, 2018
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Adam Samuel Gibson
Jan 18, 2021
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Brian Dennis Moore
Jan 13, 2022
Where
Military Service
Adam Samuel Gibson served in the U.S. Marine Corps (2008–2012) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Adam Samuel Gibson’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 15-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
21 officers from Sacramento County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
