Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Alfred Baird was shot and killed while on foot patrol on Eagle Street in downtown Asheville. A man walked up and shot him and another man he was talking to without provocation. Officer Baird was killed instantly. The suspect was apprehended a short time later. The man Officer Baird was talking to died from his wounds two weeks later. The suspect was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to two terms of 12.5 years to life in prison. He died in prison on January 6th, 1980. Officer Baird was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War and had served with the Asheville Police Department for eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-E3C99D7B- 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.
Police Officer Baird gave the Asheville Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Asheville community, and 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
Alfred Baird served in the Air Force (1951â1953) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Alfred Baird 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Asheville Police Dept., 5 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Alfred Baird's cause is highlighted.
How Alfred Baird Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Alfred Baird is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Alfred Baird was killed by rifle; .22 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Asheville Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
