Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Lawrence Adam was shot and killed during the Detroit Race Riots of 1943. He and three other officers had responded to the corner of Brush Street and Vernor Highway when Officer Adam was struck in the groin by a shotgun blast fired from the parking lot of a nearby hotel at 9:30 p.m. His partner returned fire, killing the gunman. Officer Adam was taken to the hospital for treatment while officers continued exchanging gunfire with rioters at the scene. Officer Adam showed signs of improvement but succumbed to an infection of his wounds ten days later. Officer Adam had served with the Detroit Police Department for 5 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents, two sisters, and grandmother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-F8533934- 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 Adam gave the Detroit Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Adam.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Lawrence A. Adam 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
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. Lawrence A. Adam's cause is highlighted.
How Lawrence A. Adam Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lawrence A. Adam is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lawrence A. Adam was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
249 officers from Detroit Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
