Police Officer

William Baker

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Accident
End of Watch December 27, 1851
The Vigil Panel 1 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer William Baker was killed while assisting at the scene of a large fire at the intersection of 6th Street and Chestnut Street. Officer Baker was attempting to rescue several people and remove property from a burning building when a portion of it collapsed, trapping them inside.

The remains of Officer Baker and a prominent citizen were recovered the following day.

Officer Baker was survived by his wife. He is buried in Saint John the Evangelist Church Cemetery in Philadelphia.

Survivors

Officer Baker was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

175 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Baker served with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 27, 1851
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

William is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1851, 1 officer in the United States was lost to accidents, the 163rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

When

December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

By month
By day of the week
III

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
IV

His people

Philadelphia Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
V

Where

Police Officer William Baker

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch December 27, 1851

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 63-E

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