Roll of Honor

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Lieutenant

Joseph Francis Adamy

Amherst Police Department — Amherst, NY

Felonious

End of Watch January 27, 1990

Age 39

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

The Vigil Panel 135 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Lieutenant Joseph Adamy was killed when a drunk driver struck his vehicle and pushed into a utility pole. The 32-year-old driver was making an illegal U-Turn when hit Lieutenant Adamy. He was charged DUI, vehicular manslaughter, and making a improper turn.

In 1998 the restaurant that served him the alcohol, TGI Fridays, was ordered in civil court to pay Joseph Adamy's family $6.5 million.

Survivors

Lieutenant Adamy was survived by his expectant wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-F5B99D4C
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Lieutenant Adamy gave the Amherst Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Amherst community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Adamy.

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

Agency

Department Amherst Police Department

Location Amherst, NY

Platform Identity amhepd.erie.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 27, 1990

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Not available

Lieutenant Joseph Francis Adamy 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Amherst Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Amherst Police Department

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Francis Adamy's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Joseph Francis Adamy Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Not available

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Francis Adamy is highlighted in Jan.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Francis Adamy was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

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