Marion County Sheriff's Office, Indiana
End of Watch: Monday, September 17, 2001
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Badge Number: 232
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 17, 2001
Weapon Used: Rifle; AK-47
Suspect Info: One shot and killed
Deputy Jason Baker was shot and killed following a high-speed pursuit.
At 7:20 pm, while en route to a disturbance, Deputy Baker attempted to investigate a vehicle with four subjects who refused to stop. During the chase, two of the suspects in the vehicle opened fire with AK-47 rifles, causing severe damage to Deputy Baker's patrol car. Deputy Baker received a bullet wound to his upper right arm and had minor cuts on his face from glass fragments. The suspect's vehicle turned a corner, stopped, and the men inside set up an ambush inside their car. When Deputy Baker approached 32nd Street and Brouse Avenue, the suspects opened fire, fatally striking Deputy Baker.
One of the suspects was shot and killed the next day after exchanging shots with officers for eight hours. The other three suspects were apprehended and sentenced to life in prison without parole. The shooter was sentenced to an additional 100 years. The man who provided the weapons to the suspects was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Deputy Baker was a United States Army Military Police veteran who served with the Marion County Sheriff's Department for over six years, beginning as a telecommunicator in 1995, then as a special deputy from 1997, before serving as a deputy for over two years. He was survived by his parents, brother, and two sisters. His father is a retired
Director of Public Safety from Albion, Michigan, and served in law enforcement for 42 years.
The Jason M. Baker Foundation provides assistance to young people pursuing an education in the public safety field.