Steven Lester Bailey
Agency patch
Trooper

Steven Lester Bailey

Indiana State Police — Indianapolis, IN
Accident
End of Watch December 10, 1983
Age 29
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 127 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Steven Bailey was accidentally shot and killed when his own weapon discharged while serving a warrant at San Miguel Circle in Indianapolis. When Trooper Bailey, two additional troopers, and a Marion County probation officer arrived around 11:30 p.m., the resident refused to open the door. As they were attempting to force open a door, Trooper Bailey's gun went off, striking him. He was transported to Methodist Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. Trooper Bailey had served with the Indiana State Police for five years and was assigned to the Headquarters post as an undercover narcotics officer.

Survivors

He was survived by his mother, father, two sisters, and three brothers.

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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Bailey gave the Indiana State Police 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Indiana. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Bailey.

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

Agency

Type State Police
Location Indianapolis, IN
Platform Identity insp.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 10, 1983
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 29
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Accident

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

34,117 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 1983, 74 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 36th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Steven was 29. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Steven had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

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
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 0.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Indiana State Police has 46 officers remembered here, Steven among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Trooper Steven Lester Bailey

Indiana State Police · End of Watch December 10, 1983

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 35-E

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