Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Charles Adams succumbed to wounds he suffered nine days earlier after being shot while attempting to serve an arrest warrant.
He and a DeWitt County deputy went to a grocery store at 1410 South Main Street, in Normal, at 8:30 am to arrest a subject on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and for the robbery of a restaurant in Clinton in DeWitt County. The subject had recently eloped to Indiana with the grocery store owner's 16-year-old daughter to marry her. The man attempted to see his wife at the store the night before, causing her father to seek the warrant.
After the other deputy handcuffed the suspect, retrieving one weapon, Deputy Adams took custody of him and telephoned the sheriff. The suspect produced a second pistol from his sleeve and shot Deputy Adams once in the back and three times in his leg. As the store owner attempted to gain control over the suspect's weapon, he was shot multiple times in the hand before the other deputy was able to shoot the suspect in the head and chest.
Deputy Adams was transported to St. Joseph Hospital in Bloomington where he succumbed to his wounds nine days later after developing septic pneumonia.
The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. He lost his bid for parole for the 8th time in 1953. He was due to be released in 1964.
Deputy Adams had served with the McLean County Sheriff's Department for 1½ years and had previously served as an Empire Township deputy and the LeRoy town marshal.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three daughters, parents, two sisters and five brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-C19B5D95- 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
You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Adams gave the McLean County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Bloomington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Adams.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Charles Ernest 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At McLean County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Ernest Adams's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Ernest Adams Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Ernest Adams is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Ernest Adams was killed by handgun; pistol.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from McLean County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
