Tim Adams was born and raised in Miami, Florida, where he still resides with his fiancée and daughters. He attended Miami-Dade College and St. Thomas University where he received degrees in Criminology and Public Administration. He retired on June 24, 2022, for the second time, after 51 years in law enforcement.
He is a decorated U. S. Army Vietnam Combat Veteran. Upon his return he joined the Dade County Public Safety Department (Dade County Sheriff), now known as the Miami-Dade Police Department. He retired as a Sergeant (28 yrs.) after 34 years of service. During that time, he served as follows: uniform patrol, FTO, detective/Sergeant in Vice/Intelligence/Narcotics, burglary, Rangemaster, Training Bureau, Special Response Team (SRT) as trainer/team leader, Mobile Field Force (MFF) Committee instructor/trainer. Tim then spent two and a half years in Afghanistan in the International Police Program for the Department of State as a Rangemaster/Instructor for the Afghan Police.
Upon returning he joined the Miami Gardens Police Department as a Sergeant and Captain until his retirement June 24, 2022. During that time, he served as the following: uniform patrol as Sergeant and Captain, FTO Coordinator, Rangemaster, Training Bureau as Sergeant and Captain, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Coordinator, Mental Health First Aid Instructor, Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) instructor, De-escalation (verbal and tactical) instructor, PEER Support policy development/PEER Support Coordinator. He is also certified as an instructor for the Suicide Awareness for Law Enforcement – VALOR (SAFLEO) Program through the Department of Justice (DOJ).
In 2023 Tim was chosen as the Chair for the Steering Committee for the development and training of the Miami-Dade County Multi Agency Regional Peer Support Team. The Regional Peer Support Team became operational in December 2023.
In late 2021 he attended the five-day Struggle Well /Train-the-Trainer Course. He then attended Train-the-Trainer for the two-day SW Course, as well as supplemental SW Facilitator training. He has taught the two-hour SW overview, two-day SW course and the five-day SW course as well as assisting with the development of fellow SW facilitators.
Tim was promoted to Struggle Well Senior Guide/Instructor in December 2023, and to Struggle Well Master Guide/Instructor in May 2024. Tim was again promoted to the level of Master Guide and Master Guide Trainer
Tim has been a member of the following organizations/committees: Member of Florida Statewide Task Force for Suicide Prevention for First Responders, Chair and Steering Committee Member for the Miami-Dade Chiefs of Police Regional Peer Support Team, CIT Steering Committee Co-Chair) Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), Mental Health First Aid, Crisis Incident Team (CIT) International, International Public Safety Association (IPSA), International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA), International Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Association (IALEFI), SAFELEO
Published several articles on Officer Survival Topics.
