Adelbert S. Williams
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Adelbert S. Williams

Gibsonville Police Department — Gibsonville, NC
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch May 2, 1940
Age 39
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
The Vigil Panel 76 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief Williams was shot and killed while making an arrest at 3:45 a.m. He had caught a suspect loading stolen merchandise into a stolen vehicle. As Chief Williams started to handcuff the suspect a struggle ensued and they exchanged shots. The suspect was killed at the scene. Chief Williams was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds that evening. Chief Williams was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had been with the Gibsonville Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-07F11B69
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Adelbert. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Adelbert is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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.
Chief of Police Williams gave the Gibsonville Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Gibsonville community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Gibsonville, NC
Platform Identity gibspd.guilford.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 2, 1940
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Military Service

Adelbert S. Williams served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Chief of Police Adelbert S. Williams is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 58 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Gibsonville Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Gibsonville Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
NC — Statewide
385
of 664 officers
58% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Adelbert S. Williams's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Adelbert S. Williams Compares

Age at Death
39
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
6
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Adelbert S. Williams is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Adelbert S. Williams was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Military Service

Adelbert S. Williams served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

Visit Adelbert S. Williams’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Gibsonville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.