J. Wafe Adams
Agency patch
Police Officer

J. Wafe Adams

Birmingham Police Department — Birmingham, AL
Felonious
End of Watch March 28, 1900
The Vigil Panel 16 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Adams and Officer George Kirkley were shot and killed while attempting to stop a suspect they had just witnessed committing a robbery. The suspect was sentenced to death and hanged for the murders on June 29, 1901.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Adams served with the Birmingham Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Adams.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL
Platform Identity birmpd.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 28, 1900
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

J. is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1900, 86 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 74th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
III

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
IV

His people

Birmingham Police Department has 49 officers remembered here, J. among them.

Across the years

Police Officer J. Wafe Adams

Birmingham Police Department · End of Watch March 28, 1900

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 40-W

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