Vincent J. Adolfo

Baltimore Police Dept. — Baltimore, MD

Felonious

End of Watch November 18, 1985

Age 24

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 130 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 150

Incident

Police Officer Vincent Adolfo was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who had just fled from officers in a stolen vehicle. The vehicle rammed another patrol car and all of the occupants fled on foot. Officer Adolfo chased one of the men to Iron Alley where the man pretended to give up. As Officer Adolfo approached him the man produced a .357 caliber handgun and opened fire, striking him in the chest and back. Officer Adolfo's police issue vest only contained a front panel that stopped rounds up to .38 caliber. The suspect was apprehended in Oklahoma, returned to Maryland, and executed for the murder in 1997. Officer Adolfo had served with the Baltimore City Police Department for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MD-0CF04BF4
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.
Police Officer Adolfo gave the Baltimore City Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baltimore community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Adolfo.

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

Agency

Department Baltimore Police Dept.

Location Baltimore, MD

Platform Identity baltpd.baltimore.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 18, 1985

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 24

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1997

Police Officer Vincent J. Adolfo 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Baltimore Police Dept., 80 of 151 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this agency's fallen.

Baltimore Police Dept.

of 151 officers

53% Felonious

MD — Statewide

195

of 377 officers

51.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious