Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Joseph Baker was shot and killed when he attempted to serve an eviction notice and other court papers to a pair of brothers.
Sheriff Baker was outside the premise and was shot by one of the brothers who had fired from a second-floor window. The sheriff was taken to a nearby house, where he died the following day. Both suspects were taken into custody a short time later.
A week later, an angry mob broke into the jail and hanged both suspects. The suspect who shot Sheriff Baker had served several years in New York's Sing Sing Prison for murder.
Sheriff Baker had served four years with the 18th Wisconsin Infantry during the Civil War. He received a severe wound at the Battle of Shiloh. He entered the war as a private and came out as a 1st Lieutenant.
Sheriff Baker was serving his second term as Sheriff of the Portage County Sheriff's Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WI-DC860C52- 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
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.
Sheriff Baker gave the Portage County Sheriff's Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Stevens Point community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Joseph H. Baker served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sheriff Joseph H. Baker 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 WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph H. Baker's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph H. Baker Compares
Offender Outcome
Lynched
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph H. Baker is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph H. Baker was killed by gun; unknown type.