Deputy Jason Baker – Marion County Sheriff’s Office
Appointed: 06/01/99
End of Watch: 09/17/2001
On September 17th, 2001, Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason M. Baker #232 was killed in the line of Duty. Deputy Baker was enroute to a disturbance when his attention was diverted by a vehicle which he attempted to investigate. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop and Deputy Baker pursued. The chase reached the intersection of 32nd and Brouse where suspects exited the vehicle. It was at this time that Deputy Baker was fatally wounded. By early the next day all suspects were located. Three were arrested and the fourth was found dead. On February18, 2003, Michael Shannon pleaded guilty to killing Deputy Jason Baker. In return for pleading guilty Shannon will not face the death penalty, but will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Because he confessed to the killing he will not be able to appeal. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder and other charges.
Deputy Baker was appointed as a Merit Deputy on June 1, 1999. He also worked as a Marion County Sheriff’s Department Tele-Communicator in the Communications Division from 1995 through 1996 and as a Special Deputy from 1997 until his appointment as a Merit Officer.
On September 21st, 2001, Deputy Jason Matthew Baker was laid to rest in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. His MCSD radio and badge numbers were permanently retired by the department and not be used again.
“All Marion County Units, 232 has marked 10-42 and has gone home for the final time.”