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By Deborah Carl
Funeral Held for LDS Police Officer Killed on Duty
LEHI, UTAH -- Lehi lost a bit of its small-town innocence August 3.
Officer Joseph Dan Adams' death marked the first officer shooting
death in the city's 149-year history. Adams, 26, died shortly after
being shot in the abdomen and leg during a traffic stop. He is
survived by his wife Cydney, and their 7-month-old son, Cade. Adams,
a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was an
Eagle Scout and had served as a missionary in the Liepzig German
Mission. Besides working for the Lehi Police Department, Adams was
part of the Army National Guard and served once a month on weekends
as a medic. He also worked for the Utah County SWAT team. He was
involved in the church as an Assistant Scoutmaster, a teacher, and a
leader.
According to his passenger, Scott Welch, 23 of West Valley City had
been drinking shortly before Officer Adams stopped them. Adams asked
Welch to exit the vehicle and was arresting him after finding a bag
of cocaine in the trunk. Welch produced a .22-caliber handgun and
began shooting just after the officer had placed a pair of handcuffs
on his left wrist. The bullet missed Adams' bullet-proof vest by a
fraction of an inch. Adams returned fire, but the suspect fled in his
vehicle. The passenger jumped from the car as it pulled away and
called 911 on his cell phone when he saw Office Adams lying on the
ground.
Welch was found at a parking lot bleeding near his stomach and
wearing the handcuffs on his wrist. "He was red and obviously
bleeding near his stomach and holding his stomach," witness Rex Bush
told the Desert News. "He asked for help, and we weren't sure what to
do so we called 911." Welch remains in critical but stable condition
at LDS Hospital. The Utah County Attorney's Office plans to charge
him with capital murder. County prosecutors also plan to file a
second-degree felony charge of possession of cocaine in a drug-free
zone and a misdemeanor charge of driving without a license or
insurance.
An estimated 1,500 to 2,000 mourners, including hundreds of police
officers from across Utah and several surrounding states, packed the
Orem LDS chapel and another meetinghouse four blocks away where the
services were telecast. A white wooden cross stands at a dusty
freeway interchange near 2100 N. 1200 West where Adams was fatally
wounded. A Lehi police patch is at the center of the cross. In dark
paint, it reads: "God Speed Officer Adams."
Sources:
The Focus Is on Life at Fallen Officer's Funeral
Salt Lake Tribune 9Aug01 P2
By Mark Eddington: Salt Lake Tribune
Deadly Gunbattle Described by Suspect's Passenger
Salt Lake Tribune 8Aug01 P2
By Kevin Cantera: Salt Lake Tribune
Funeral Scheduled For Slain Officer
Salt Lake Tribune 7Aug01 P2
By Kevin Cantera: Salt Lake Tribune
Flags placed to honor Adams
Provo UT Daily Herald pgA8 6Aug01 P2
By Caleb Warnock: The Daily Herald
Lehi officer killed while on duty
Ogden UT Standard-Examiner (AP) 5Aug01 P2
The Associated Press
Before he died, Joe Adams, 26, critically wounded suspect, 23
Was Lehi slaying over drugs?
Deseret News 7Aug01 P2
By Geoffrey Fattah: Deseret News staff writer
Documents say Adams found bag of coke in trunk
Memorial honors officer
Deseret News 6Aug01 P2
By Geoffrey Fattah: Deseret News staff writer
Community mourns death of Officer Joe Adams
American Fork UT New Utah 7Aug01 P2
By Cathy Allred
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