Claude H. Baker Jr.

Florida Highway Patrol — Tallahassee, FL

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch November 17, 1973

Age 32

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

The Vigil Panel 112 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 53

Incident

Trooper Claude Baker was shot and killed after stopping an escaped prisoner in a stolen car at 7:57 p.m. near Venice. He was found lying on the highway beside his patrol car by a passing motorist on U.S. 41. A few hours later, the suspect was taken into custody at a police roadblock in Charlotte County. He had stolen the car from a woman whom he had also robbed and raped. The 24-year-old suspect was convicted of first-degree murder, escape, robbery, rape, and motor vehicle theft. He was sentenced to three life terms plus 20 years in prison on March 22, 1974. On November 22, 1987, he escaped from prison and was recaptured four days later. While out, he committed an armed robbery and a deadly assault. He was convicted of both crimes and got 80 years added to his sentence. As of November 21, 2020, he was in prison. Trooper Baker was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Florida Highway Patrol for 9 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-89DDCD1B
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Claude is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper Baker gave the Florida Highway Patrol 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Florida, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Florida Highway Patrol

Type Highway Patrol

Location Tallahassee, FL

Platform Identity fhp.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 17, 1973

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

Claude H. Baker Jr. served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Trooper Claude H. Baker Jr. is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Florida Highway Patrol, 23 of 54 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.6% of this agency's fallen.

Florida Highway Patrol

of 54 officers

42.6% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious