Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective James Baucus was shot and killed while attempting to arrest three men in Portsmouth, Ohio, he surprised stealing coal and chickens from a box car. As he walked the men to his guard shack one of them produced a .32 caliber handgun and shot him in the head at the Kendall Avenue crossing. The suspect then stole Detective Baucus' service weapon and flashlight before fleeing. It was reported in several Ohio papers the killer was arrested in Wheeling, West Virginia, in February of 1922, but there was never anymore information. Detective Baucus had previously served as Chief of Police for Portsmouth, Ohio, and as an investigator for the Scioto County Sheriff's Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-0D594A9F- 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.
Detective Baucus gave the Norfolk and Western Railroad Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roanoke community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Baucus.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective James Allie Baucus 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 VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Norfolk and Western Railroad Police Department, 4 of 4 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. James Allie Baucus's cause is highlighted.
How James Allie Baucus Compares
Offender Outcome
Never apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Allie Baucus is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Allie Baucus was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Norfolk and Western Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
