Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Leonard Adams was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for being drunk in public in Mayking. He was in the area on other business when a citizen informed him of the drunk man. Deputy Adams located the subject carrying a 12 gauge shotgun at the railroad crossing over Cram Creek. He exited his car and as he got within two feet of the subject, the man opened fire, shooting him. Despite being mortally wounded, Deputy Adams returned fire and killed the subject. Two of Deputy Adams' sons witnessed the shooting and accompanied him to the hospital where he died a short time later. Deputy Adams had served with the Letcher County Sheriff's Department for 20 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his expectant wife and 13 children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-AE44C07B- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Adams gave the Letcher County Sheriff's Office 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Whitesburg 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 Leonard Adams, Sr. 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Letcher County Sheriff's Office, 16 of 19 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 84.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Leonard Adams, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Leonard Adams, Sr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Leonard Adams, Sr. is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Leonard Adams, Sr. was killed by shotgun; 12 gauge.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
18 officers from Letcher County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
