Roll of Honor
Incident
City Marshal Fred Baird was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect who had shot at a constable.
The subject was attempting to seek revenge against the constable who had served a levy against him and confiscated livestock earlier in the day. The man obtained firearms and ammunition and then attempted to shoot at the constable at his home. When the constable returned fire the man ran into a nearby home at 215 East Walnut Street.
Marshal Baird located the man hiding in the basement of the home and was shot as he attempted to place him into custody.
The suspect was convicted of Marshal Baird's murder and sent to prison where he died on April 2, 1904.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-B33E7189- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
127 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
City Marshal Baird served with the Fairbury Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Fairbury community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal William Frederick Baird 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Fairbury Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Frederick Baird's cause is highlighted.
How William Frederick Baird Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Frederick Baird is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Frederick Baird was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Fairbury Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
