Roll of Honor

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Officer

Eugene Barker

Newport Police Department — Newport, RI

Felonious

End of Watch April 22, 1884

Age 39

The Vigil Panel 8 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Officer Eugene Barker was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who had just shot and wounded another man. As Officer Barker opened the door to a saloon the suspect was hiding in he was shot in the face. The 22-year-old suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. In 1906 he was pardoned by Governor George H. Utler.

Survivors

Officer Barker was survived by his wife and adopted child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-RI-F5ACEEAE
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Officer Barker served with the Newport Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Newport community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Newport Police Department

Location Newport, RI

Platform Identity npd.newport.ri.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 22, 1884

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Pardoned in 1906

Officer Eugene Barker is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In RI, 25 of 55 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.5% of this state's fallen. That is 8.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Newport Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Newport Police Department

of 3 officers

66.7% Felonious

RI — Statewide

of 55 officers

45.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Eugene Barker's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Eugene Barker Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Pardoned in 1906

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Eugene Barker is highlighted in Apr.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Eugene Barker was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Newport Police Department are honored on badge.nw.