Elmer Jessie Baumgardner
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Elmer Jessie Baumgardner

Evarts Police Department — Evarts, KY
Felonious
End of Watch September 14, 1948
Age 50
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 84 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief Elmer Baumgardner was shot and killed during an arrest attempt at a residence. He had allowed the suspect to go into a room to change his shirt because it was bloodied during the preceding arrest attempt. The suspect emerged from the room with a gun and shot Chief Baumgardner in the chest, killing him instantly. The suspect was later shot and killed by other officers. Chief Baumgardner had served with the Evarts Police Department for 3 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and eight children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-F7422B3B
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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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Baumgardner gave the Evarts Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Evarts community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Baumgardner.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Evarts, Harlan County, KY
Platform Identity epd.harlan.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 14, 1948
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 50
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Chief of Police Elmer Jessie Baumgardner 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 97,772 officers honored here.

In KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Evarts Police Department, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Evarts Police Department
4
of 5 officers
80% Felonious
KY — Statewide
755
of 983 officers
76.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Elmer Jessie Baumgardner's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Elmer Jessie Baumgardner Compares

Age at Death
50
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
3
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Elmer Jessie Baumgardner is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Elmer Jessie Baumgardner was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909