Sitka Police Department, Alaska
End of Watch: Thursday, July 28, 1960
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 2 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 28, 1960
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Committed suicide
Officer Barber was shot and killed while attempting to serve legal papers to a man at a mobile home.
When he knocked on the door the man opened fire with a rifle from inside, striking Officer Barber in the chest. An unarmed, off-duty officer who had accompanied Officer Barber called for backup. When the Chief arrived they found that the suspect had committed suicide.
Officer Barber had been with the agency for only two months but had been an officer in California and Nevada before moving to Alaska. He was a U.S. Army veteran and was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.