Roll of Honor
Incident
Captain Baxter was shot and killed while trying to arrest a domestic abuser. The suspect was captured a short time later. The suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Survivors
Captain Baxter was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MA-BC176E10- 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
151 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Captain Baxter gave the Plymouth Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Plymouth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Captain Josiah D. Baxter 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 MA, 199 of 469 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.4% of this state's fallen. That is 11.8 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Plymouth Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Josiah D. Baxter's cause is highlighted.
How Josiah D. Baxter Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Josiah D. Baxter is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Josiah D. Baxter was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Plymouth Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
