Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Adams and Officer George Kirkley were shot and killed while attempting to stop a suspect they had just witnessed committing a robbery. The suspect was sentenced to death and hanged for the murders on June 29, 1901.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-79DBDEF3- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Adams served with the Birmingham Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Adams.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer J. Wafe Adams is one of 17,558 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,585 officers honored here.
In AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 9.1 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
At Birmingham Police Department, 34 of 49 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. J. Wafe Adams's cause is highlighted.
How J. Wafe Adams Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. J. Wafe Adams is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. J. Wafe Adams was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
48 officers from Birmingham Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
