Staff Sergeant Edward Adamson

Edward Adamson loved being a police officer.

Following in his father’s footsteps into the work, he was appointed as a Metropolitan Toronto Police Force Cadet-in-Training on June 27, 1967.

His father became Chief Harold Adamson shortly afterwards.

He soon met Linda, paired with her as a groomsmen at her cousin’s wedding. When she laid eyes on the young man in the green sweater, she would say ‘I’m going to marry him.’

He took her home to meet his parents the next day and show off his split window Corvette. He also told her about his love of and dedication to his work. They were married May 1, 1971.

He began his career as a Police Constable in the downtown 52 Division where he worked his formative years in policing before moving onto to an investigative role in 32 Division and then onto the Emergency Task Force. 

He felt a brotherhood and loyalty with his fellow officers, working long and odd hours, joining them in dangerous work and also on hunting trips, although never killing an animal, only chasing the camaraderie.

It was the tragic death of a fellow officer that changed his life forever.

He led the Emergency Task Force response when Constable Michael Sweet was shot and held hostage by two men robbing a bar. 

He and two other officers stormed the building shooting the captors and delivering First Aid to the injured officer before he died.

When Adamson arrived home, he was quiet. His skin gray. He would not come home the same man who left.

He did not speak of what happened but would talk in his sleep for many years afterward: “I’m coming, don’t die.”

Adamson continued with his family life and did not speak about the case or how it had affected him.

In his career, he later joined the Hold Up Squad. 

He would move on to work in several Divisions before retiring on January 31, 1994. He later worked with the Ontario Provincial Police.

He died because of the line of duty on October 5, 2005.

He received a posthumous diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder by the Workplace Safety Insurance Board recognizing the trauma he had suffered had led to his death.

His legacy of service continues as his beloved grandson Brayden is now serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.