SHERIFF
09-11-2004, 05:32 AM
This is terrible.........
Police captain drowns in lake
Victim recently promoted
September 11, 2004
LAKE ANNA - A Louisa County resident and Virginia State Police captain drowned during a boating accident on Lake Anna on Thursday.
Capt. D. Steve Adams, 55, was commander of the Appomattox Division of State Police.
Adams, an avid boater, was thrown from his craft around 2:30 p.m. while his uncle was water skiing, according to Lt. Gary Payne, public affairs director for the Virginia State Police.
Adams had been turning the boat toward his uncle, who had just finished skiing, Payne said. The uncle and at least one other witness told authorities that after falling overboard, Adams was unable to get back in the boat.
"The uncle swam towards him. When he got to him he appeared to be unconscious. He was beginning to sink into the water," Payne said.
Adams' body was recovered at about 10:05 p.m. Thursday, he said. Payne did not know whether Adams was wearing a life jacket.
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is investigating the cause of the drowning.
It was the first drowning this year at Lake Anna, which usually has at least one per year. The last drowning was in 2003.
Former colleagues at the State Police described Adams as an experienced boater and waterman who was a skilled police officer.
"He was a very dedicated employee to the agency. Very witty, very knowledgeable and a very capable employee," said Capt. Len Terry, director of the Professional Standards Unit in Richmond, who knew him for about 20 years.
"We're completely saddened by their loss and as far as we're concerned, he was a top-notch world-class police officer and a definite asset to State Police, and we're all going to miss him," said Maj. Donald A. Lowe with the Louisa County Sheriff's Office.
Adams is survived by his wife and adult children. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Adams joined the State Police in 1972 as a trooper. His first assignment after graduating from the State Police Academy in 1973 was in Tabb. From 1988 to 1994, he oversaw the Area 12 Office in Warrenton and served as a sergeant in Springfield.
Before being promoted to captain this summer, Adams spent 10 years as a lieutenant at the Culpeper Division Headquarters and at the Professional Standards Unit.
Police captain drowns in lake
Victim recently promoted
September 11, 2004
LAKE ANNA - A Louisa County resident and Virginia State Police captain drowned during a boating accident on Lake Anna on Thursday.
Capt. D. Steve Adams, 55, was commander of the Appomattox Division of State Police.
Adams, an avid boater, was thrown from his craft around 2:30 p.m. while his uncle was water skiing, according to Lt. Gary Payne, public affairs director for the Virginia State Police.
Adams had been turning the boat toward his uncle, who had just finished skiing, Payne said. The uncle and at least one other witness told authorities that after falling overboard, Adams was unable to get back in the boat.
"The uncle swam towards him. When he got to him he appeared to be unconscious. He was beginning to sink into the water," Payne said.
Adams' body was recovered at about 10:05 p.m. Thursday, he said. Payne did not know whether Adams was wearing a life jacket.
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is investigating the cause of the drowning.
It was the first drowning this year at Lake Anna, which usually has at least one per year. The last drowning was in 2003.
Former colleagues at the State Police described Adams as an experienced boater and waterman who was a skilled police officer.
"He was a very dedicated employee to the agency. Very witty, very knowledgeable and a very capable employee," said Capt. Len Terry, director of the Professional Standards Unit in Richmond, who knew him for about 20 years.
"We're completely saddened by their loss and as far as we're concerned, he was a top-notch world-class police officer and a definite asset to State Police, and we're all going to miss him," said Maj. Donald A. Lowe with the Louisa County Sheriff's Office.
Adams is survived by his wife and adult children. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Adams joined the State Police in 1972 as a trooper. His first assignment after graduating from the State Police Academy in 1973 was in Tabb. From 1988 to 1994, he oversaw the Area 12 Office in Warrenton and served as a sergeant in Springfield.
Before being promoted to captain this summer, Adams spent 10 years as a lieutenant at the Culpeper Division Headquarters and at the Professional Standards Unit.