Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Baxter and Lieutenant Thomas Kling were shot and killed after responding to a shots fired call at a local store. The store owner had long terrorized his neighbors and police and had setup an ambush for the officers. When Officer Baxter and Lieutenant Kling entered the store they were shot and killed. The suspect was convicted of manslaughter in the deaths of both officers and sentenced to 4 years in prison.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WY-B6B765F2- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Baxter served with the Rawlins Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Rawlins community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Baxter.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer John Baxter 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 97,756 officers honored here.
In WY, 41 of 63 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.1% of this state's fallen. That is 65.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Rawlins 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Baxter's cause is highlighted.
How John Baxter Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Baxter is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Baxter was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Rawlins Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
