Chief of Police Gregory Blaise Adams

Chief of Police Gregory Blaise Adams

Saxonburg Borough Police Department, Pennsylvania

End of Watch Thursday, December 4, 1980

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Gregory Blaise Adams

Chief of Police Gregory Adams was shot and killed while making a traffic stop in the parking lot of the Agway Feed Store.

Chief Adams was on Water Street when the suspect sped past a stop sign. Chief Adams pursued the man and caught up with him when the man attempted to turn around in a supermarket parking lot.

Chief Adams used his patrol car to block the exit of the parking lot and approached the driver's side door. When asked to provide his driver's license, the man gave Chief Adams a fake ID and then shot him twice in the chest. The man then got out of the car, and the chief returned fire, but the shots were not fatal.

The suspect then used Chief Adams' gun to pistol whip him and fled the scene. Chief Adam's weapon was found seven miles away in Winfield, Pennsylvania, and the suspect's car was found in Warwick, Rhode Island. He was placed on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list in 1981 but was removed from the list in March 2007. In July 2017, the man's body was found buried in his ex-wife's backyard. Investigators believe he died in approximately 1999.

Chief Adams was not wearing a bulletproof vest at the time because he had lent his to another officer. It is believed that the suspect was en route to rob a jewelry store when Chief Adams stopped him.

Chief Adams was a U.S Marine Corps veteran. He had served with the Saxonburg Borough Police Department for seven years and had served in law enforcement for nine years. He had previously served with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC. He was survived by his wife and two sons.

He is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Herman, Pennsylvania.

Bio

  • Age 31
  • Tour 9 years
  • Badge Not available
  • Military Veteran

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Handgun; .25 caliber
  • Offender Deceased

traffic stop, vehicle pursuit

Most Recent Reflection

View all 39 Reflections

Chief Adams was a friend of my grandfather and grandmother. He was a great person. My mother, and her siblings grew up and lived two houses over from where this horrific crime occurred. My grandmother Madeline Freehling is the hero who ran to the rescue the day this happened. My uncle told her he heard gun shots and she went to investigate. She found Officer Adams near the backyard of the house beside Agway. Held the officers hand and told my uncle to call 911. My grandma was on a crime show and even re-enacted the event in hopes to find the man who did this awful crime. -She was the most amazing, caring, heroic person I’ve ever met. May her and Officer Adams and my Grandfather Bim/Donald rest in the most Heavenly Peace. Until we meet again.

Dallis Covalt
Granddaughter to Madeline C. Freehling- Family friend to Officer Adams

September 24, 2022

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