Shantay Neal-Baker
Agency patch
Detective

Shantay Neal-Baker

Illness
End of Watch August 14, 2021
Age 42
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
The Vigil Panel 176 ›
Gender Female

Incident

Detective Shantay Neal-Baker died as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Detective Neal-Baker had served with the New York City Police Department for 20 years and was assigned to the Risk Mitigation Division.

COVID-19 and Law Enforcement

Detective Shantay Neal-Baker died on August 14, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 42.

He is one of 884 officers honored here, and one of 18 at New York City Police Department.

Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.

Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.

Survivors

She is survived by her son and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-F3755104
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

The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Detective Neal-Baker gave the New York City Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Neal-Baker.

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

Agency

Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 14, 2021
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 42
Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Illness

Detective Shantay Neal-Baker is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NY, 629 of 2,147 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 29.3% of this state's fallen. That is 20.2 percentage points above the national rate of 9.1%.

At New York City Police Department, 521 of 1237 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 42.1% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department
521
of 1,237 officers
42.1% Illness
NY — Statewide
629
of 2,147 officers
29.3% Illness
Nationwide
2,974
of 32,508 officers
9.1% Illness

National Cause Distribution

How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Shantay Neal-Baker's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Shantay Neal-Baker Compares

Age at End of Watch
42
This officer
Avg for Illness: 47.8 years
Years of Service
20
This officer
Avg for Illness: 18.9 years

When Illness Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Shantay Neal-Baker is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
294
Feb
198
Mar
185
Apr
226
May
201
Jun
181
Jul
217
Aug
281
Sep
291
Oct
376
Nov
239
Dec
285

Incident Location