A former Golden firefighter who was recognized in 1999 with a community-service award was shot by deputies in Florida last night after he fired a rifle at them, authorities said.
Dallas Adkins Jr., 59, who moved to Florida a couple of years ago after living and working in Golden for many years, was hit by gunfire from Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday night, according to The Sun-Sentinel newspaper. He is in critical condition at a Florida hospital.
The incident happened after neighbors called authorities to report a man “threatening suicide.”
When deputies arrived at the home in West Delray, they were greeted by a man who answered the door armed with a rifle.
According to the Sun-Sentinel, deputies ordered the man to drop it, but he fired at them, hitting a ballistic shield. Deputies, who were not injured, returned fire, hitting Adkins “several times.”
Adkins is a former Coors employee who worked at the plant as a mechanic, according to friends and firefighters in Golden.
In 1999, Adkins received the Jack Harvey Award from the Golden Fire Department to acknowledge community service. He retired that year after 10 years as a volunteer.
Bob Burrell, a former Golden chief, recalled Adkins as a dedicated firefighter who enjoyed working on the department’s equipment.
But Adkins ran into some “financial issues” and “problems with alcohol,” Burrell said.
In 2006, Adkins was twice convicted of driving under the influence in Jefferson County.
His marriage to Mary Adkins ended in divorce in 2006, and a temporary restraining order was granted during the proceeding in light of a domestic-abuse complaint, according to court records. Adkins also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor illegal-weapon-possession charge in 2006.
Alcohol abuse fueled a downward spiral in Adkin’s life, said Mike Ryan, a longtime friend, neighbor and firefighting colleague.
“Alcohol has been a problem for him, and he has really struggled with it,” Ryan said.
When Adkins was sober, he was a very different person compared with when he was drinking.
“He was one of the biggest-hearted people I’ve ever met in my life,” Ryan said. “He went through some really tough times.”
Adkins served in the Air Force in the Vietnam War, and he struggled with post-traumatic stress from his war duties, Ryan said.
Neighbors in Florida told the Sun-Sentinel that Adkins was a quiet, friendly man who helped women in the retirement community with their grocery bags.
He’ll be charged with two counts of attempted murder on a law-enforcement officer with a weapon, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com
