Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy John Adams was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance.
Deputy Adams arrived at the domestic disturbance and found that an intoxicated ex-convict causing the problem. While Deputy Adams was taking the suspect into custody, the suspect drew a handgun and shot Deputy Adams, killing him.
The subject was apprehended and convicted of murder in the second degree. He was sentenced to seven years.
Deputy Adams had served with the Hempstead Police Department for 10 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-B1339D74- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
146 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy City Marshal Adams gave the Hempstead Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hempstead community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy City Marshal John Howell Adams is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Howell Adams's cause is highlighted.
How John Howell Adams Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Howell Adams is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.