Curtis R. Baker
Agency patch
Police Officer

Curtis R. Baker

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch June 2, 1984
Age 45
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
The Vigil Panel 128 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Curtis R. Baker was shot to death during an armed robbery at approximately 1:30 a.m. in the fourth-floor stairwell of the Robert Taylor Homes at 4500 South State Street. Officer Baker was escorting a tenant into the building. Three men trailed them when one of them announced a robbery. Officer Baker attempted to draw his service revolver, however, one of the assailants opened fire, fatally striking him once in the left side of the chest before he could fire his pistol. Officer Baker was pronounced dead at 2:00 a.m. at Michael Reese Hospital. Officer Baker had served with the Chicago Police Department for 16 years and was assigned to the Mass Transit Unit.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtqgy0et4szyrvx4c3a49
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Curtis. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Baker gave the Chicago Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Baker.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 2, 1984
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Curtis is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1984, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Curtis was 45. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Curtis had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chicago Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Curtis among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Curtis R. Baker

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch June 2, 1984

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 34-E

↑