Raleigh Police Department, North Carolina
End of Watch: Sunday, February 3, 1980
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 13 years
Badge Number: 136
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 2, 1980
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Officer Delma Adams was shot and killed while making a DUI arrest.
Officer Adams had put the female suspect in the rear of the police car. As Officer Adams sat in the driver's seat near the Raleigh Police Department, the suspect produced a handgun and shot him in the back of the head through the patrol car's cage.
The suspect, 29, was sentenced to life. As of June 11, 2023, she remains in prison.
Officer Adams had been with the Raleigh Police Department for 13 years. He is survived by his wife and two sons.