Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Selwyn Adams was shot and killed with his own service weapon while making a traffic stop at the Russell off-ramp of Interstate 94. The man he stopped for speeding and reckless driving had been drinking after an earlier argument with his wife. Sgt. Adams holstered his gun after he stopped the vehicle and noticed the suspect's one-year-old son strapped in the front seat of the car. The officer had the suspect hand over the car keys and exit the vehicle. The suspect then began to struggle with Sgt. Adams and was able to obtain the officer's gun. He shot him the officer three times; killing him. The suspect surrendered to police two hours later and was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. He served 17.5 years of a 19- to 55-year term when his conviction was overturned in 1981 on a technicality. He was released in 1982 and in 1983 he stabbed his wife to death and then fatally stabbed himself. Sgt.
Survivors
Adams was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-733694C4- 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 Selwyn. Claim this record.
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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Adams gave the Detroit Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Adams.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Selwyn C. Adams 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 97,772 officers honored here.
In MI, 426 of 719 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.2% of this state's fallen. That is 59.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Detroit Police Department, 177 of 250 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Selwyn C. Adams's cause is highlighted.
How Selwyn C. Adams Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Selwyn C. Adams is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Selwyn C. Adams was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
249 officers from Detroit Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
