Brian K. McAdams, Sr.
Agency patch
Detective

Brian K. McAdams, Sr.

Newark Police Division — Newark, NJ
Illness
End of Watch January 22, 2021
Age 51
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
The Vigil Panel 174 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Brian McAdams died as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Detective McAdams had served with the Newark Police Department for 19 years and had been assigned to the 4th and 5th Precincts, Community and Clergy Affairs, Property and Evidence, and Candidate Investigations.

COVID-19 and Law Enforcement

Detective Brian K. McAdams, Sr. died on January 22, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 51.

He is one of 884 officers honored here, and one of 8 at Newark Police Division.

Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.

Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-5390CFB0
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

The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Detective McAdams gave the Newark Police Division 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newark community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective McAdams.

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

Agency

Location Newark, NJ
Platform Identity npdpd.essex.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 22, 2021
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
Age 51
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

Detective Brian K. McAdams, Sr. is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NJ, 77 of 646 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 11.9% of this state's fallen. That is 2.8 percentage points above the national rate of 9.1%.

At Newark Police Division, 8 of 58 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 13.8% of this agency's fallen.

Newark Police Division
8
of 58 officers
13.8% Illness
NJ — Statewide
77
of 646 officers
11.9% Illness
Nationwide
2,974
of 32,508 officers
9.1% Illness

National Cause Distribution

How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Brian K. McAdams, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Brian K. McAdams, Sr. Compares

Age at End of Watch
51
This officer
Avg for Illness: 47.8 years
Years of Service
19
This officer
Avg for Illness: 18.9 years

When Illness Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Brian K. McAdams, Sr. is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
294
Feb
198
Mar
185
Apr
226
May
201
Jun
181
Jul
217
Aug
281
Sep
291
Oct
376
Nov
239
Dec
285

Incident Location