Deputy City Marshal

John Howell Adams

Hempstead Police Department — Hempstead, TX
Felonious
End of Watch November 6, 1880
Age 42
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
The Vigil Panel 6 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy John Adams was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance.

Deputy Adams arrived at the domestic disturbance and found that an intoxicated ex-convict causing the problem. While Deputy Adams was taking the suspect into custody, the suspect drew a handgun and shot Deputy Adams, killing him.

The subject was apprehended and convicted of murder in the second degree. He was sentenced to seven years.

Deputy Adams had served with the Hempstead Police Department for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

146 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy City Marshal Adams gave the Hempstead Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hempstead community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Hempstead, Waller County, TX
Platform Identity hpd.waller.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 6, 1880
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 42
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1880, 38 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 147th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 42. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded

Deputy City Marshal John Howell Adams

Hempstead Police Department · End of Watch November 6, 1880

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 23-E

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Hempstead Police Department are honored on badge.nw.

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