Orleans remembers two police officers who died in the line of duty

Posted 14 May 2013 at 12:00 am

Press release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess

ALBION – Tomorrow on May 15th, as we celebrate National Peace Officers Memorial Day, we honor the memory of two Orleans County law enforcement officers who gave their lives in the line of duty:

New York State Police Sergeant Harry A. Adams was killed on Sept. 1, 1951. Adams was directing traffic at the scene of a motor vehicle accident on Sawyer Road in the Town of Carlton when he was struck by a drunk driver.

Sergeant Adams was a 28-year veteran of the State Police, having enlisted in December 1923. He had been assigned to Orleans County since 1932 and was in charge of the Gaines sub-station. At the time of his death, Sergeant Adams was 55. He was survived by his wife and four children.

Orleans County Deputy Sheriff David H. Whittier died on Sept. 8, 1989 from injuries sustained eight months earlier on Jan. 19, 1989.  On that January night, Whittier was on patrol when he came upon an un-occupied vehicle on Gaines Basin Road in the Town of Gaines.

While Whittier was out checking the abandoned pick-up truck, the truck was struck by another vehicle operated by a drunk driver. The impact pinned Whittier between his patrol car and the truck he was checking. Whittier never recovered from the injuries he sustained as a result, and eventually succumbed to those injuries.

Whittier was a two-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office and was fulfilling a life-long dream of a career in law enforcement. At the time of his death, Deputy Whittier was 41. He was survived by his wife and two children.

We salute these brave men who gave their lives in the performance of duty. They are not forgotten.

The Men & Women of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office