Arkansas State Police, Arkansas
End of Watch: Friday, September 5, 1980
Age: 43
Tour of Duty: 18 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 5, 1980
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Trooper Frederick Bailey was shot and killed following a pursuit on I-55 near West Memphis, Arkansas.
He had attempted to stop a vehicle near the interchange of I-55 and I-40 for driving over 100 mph but the vehicle fled towards Marion. As other responding units assisted, the vehicle was stopped on the highway exit to Marion. As officers approached the car the man inside opened fire, shooting Trooper Bailey in the chest. Another trooper was able to return fire and wounded the suspect and take him into custody.
In 1981 the man, 21, was convicted of Trooper Bailey's murder and was sentenced to death. A new trial was ordered in 1997 and he was again convicted of murder but sentenced to life. As of December 13, 2022, he was in prison.