New Jersey Department of Corrections, New Jersey
End of Watch: Wednesday, July 30, 1997
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: L-425
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: July 30, 1997
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Knife
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Corrections Officer Frederick Baker was killed when he was stabbed in the back by an inmate at the Bayside State Prison in Leesburg.
Officer Baker was working alone in a cell block area when he asked an inmate to move his belongings to another cell block. The inmate attacked and stabbed Officer Baker after he made the request.
The 38-year-old inmate, who had been serving a 10-to-20-year sentence for aggravated assault, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life without parole. He was transferred to the Arizona State Penitentiary, and as of 2021, he was there.
After Officer Baker's murder, the governor immediately placed an order for knife-resistant vests for every New Jersey Department of Corrections officer.
Officer Baker had served with the New Jersey Department of Corrections for 10 years. He is survived by his wife, two children, parents, and two sisters. His son later became a New Jersey state trooper.