Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Charles Adams succumbed to gunshot wounds received two days earlier when he attempted to arrest a man for being drunk in public.
Constable Adams responded to a disturbance involving a suspect drunk in public who had fled to his residence. When Constable Adams approached to make an arrest, the suspect produced a handgun and shot Constable Adams in the throat, chest, and stomach. Constable Adams was found in his car near the scene.
The suspect was captured by a posse near Idabel, Oklahoma, the next day. He was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison October 16, 1949. He was paroled April 18, 1967.
Constable Adams had been with the agency for two years and was survived by his wife and three children.
Survivors
Constable Adams had been with the agency for two years and was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-E803D61D- 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.
Constable Adams gave the McCurtain County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Idabel community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Adams.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Charles W. 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At McCurtain County Sheriff's Office, 8 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles W. Adams's cause is highlighted.
How Charles W. Adams Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1967
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles W. Adams is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles W. Adams was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from McCurtain County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
