J. M. Baskin

Waco Police Department — Waco, TX

Felonious

End of Watch August 28, 1936

Age 46

The Vigil Panel 72 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 10

Incident

Patrolman J. M. Baskin was shot and killed while investigating a disturbance on Colcord Avenue involving a man who refused to pay a one-dollar taxi fare. The suspect opened fire with a shotgun, mortally wounding Patrolman Baskin. The suspect was apprehended a short time later. Patrolman Baskin was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds ten days later. The 60-year-old suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to 50 years. He died in prison on May 15, 1942.

Survivors

Patrolman Baskin was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-E90C84A2
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.
Patrolman Baskin served with the Waco Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Waco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Baskin.

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

Agency

Department Waco Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Waco, McLennan County, TX

Platform Identity wacopd.mclennan.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 28, 1936

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Patrolman J. M. Baskin 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Waco Police Department, 9 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 81.8% of this agency's fallen.

Waco Police Department

of 11 officers

81.8% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,461

of 2,422 officers

60.3% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious