Steven Lester Bailey

Indiana State Police — Indianapolis, IN

Accident

End of Watch December 10, 1983

Age 29

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 127 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 45

Incident

Trooper Steven Bailey was accidentally shot and killed when his own weapon discharged while serving a warrant at San Miguel Circle in Indianapolis. When Trooper Bailey, two additional troopers, and a Marion County probation officer arrived around 11:30 p.m., the resident refused to open the door. As they were attempting to force open a door, Trooper Bailey's gun went off, striking him. He was transported to Methodist Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. Trooper Bailey had served with the Indiana State Police for five years and was assigned to the Headquarters post as an undercover narcotics officer.

Survivors

He was survived by his mother, father, two sisters, and three brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-31F95248
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Bailey gave the Indiana State Police 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Indiana. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Bailey.

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

Agency

Department Indiana State Police

Location Indianapolis, IN

Platform Identity insp.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 10, 1983

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 29

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Weapon discharged while serving a warrant at San Miguel Circle in Indianapolis.

Trooper Steven Lester Bailey is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In IN, 151 of 503 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.

At Indiana State Police, 23 of 46 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Indiana State Police

of 46 officers

50% Accident

IN — Statewide

151

of 503 officers

30% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident