Post by hoosiercop on Sept 21, 2006 2:09:52 GMT -5
A while back I made a tribute page for my buddy Jason who was killed in the line of duty. The first exeprt here from that page is a brief overview of what happened that night. The second one is a personal remembrance of mine.
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Early in the evening on September 17, 2001 Marion County Sheriff's Department Deputy Jason Baker was enroute to a "domestic disturbance" call. He then observed a vehicle that caught his attention near 52nd St. and Keystone on the north side of Indianapolis, and tried to effect a traffic stop on the vehicle. The vehicle would not stop and a pursuit ensued. Durig the chase, one of the suspects popped open the sunroof of the car and opened fire on Jason's squad car with an assault rifle. Jason's car being riddled with gunfire, he dropped out of the lead of the chase, but stayed in it. Jason knew he could not let criminals like he was chasing get away. The chase wound its way to the area of 32nd St. and Brouse. The driver and one remaining passenger of the car bailed out of the vehicle, spraying bullets as they did so. Jason was struck by one of these bullets before he could even stop and exit his squad car. Emergency medical personell tried to rush Jason to the hospital, but he did not make it. On that fatefull Monday evening, just six days after the terror attacks of 9-11-01 and eight days before Jason's 25th birthday, I lost a good friend, the Marion County Sheriff's Department lost one of its better deputies, and the greater Indianapolis community lost a true hero and protector. Jason will be truly missed.
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I first started talking to Jason as I neared graduation from college in the late spring of 1998. We started talking because we both were looking to become full time law enforcement officers. I finally met Jason in person on 5-10-98. We went bike riding on the Monon Trail and hung out a little. The next morning he sent me an email that said, "Jon, Hey it was cool getting to meet you yesterday.. It was great to meet you and get to know you. If you ever wanna hang out or do something, let me know.. I work a helluva lot, but have a few days off from time to time. ooh and remember you didnt get those IPD patches from me.. ha ha ha ha Well I gotta get going... hope to talk to you soon Jason" After I graduated from Ball State University, I had applied to a couple police departments, and was still looking for a job in the Indianapolis area. Jason, being the ever-helpfull freind that he was told me in another email, "just thought I would let you know we are officially hiring at dispatch... If you were interested in working for MCSD let me know.. well I will prob call ya on days off.. talk to ya later Jason" I did not get the chance to hang out with Jason as much as I would have liked to, due to his busy schedule at the time. But I understood his dedication to work and how much he loved his job. Jason talked about his schedule some in two other email excerpts. "This is a hellish weekend, 16 hour day Friday, and an 18 hour day today, but Im off Sun and Mon.. so today will be hell... after only 4 hours sleep!!! so hows the new F/T position comming along??? Well I need to get a nap B4 my realy hellacious day begins.. talk to ya later, I will try to call ya Sunday, see whats up.. L8TR bud Jason" "jon, Sorry I didnt call you back last night or yesterday. When I got your page I was on the monon trial w/ my dad, and I kinda forgot untill I was on my way to work at 5 pm.. I worked 12 hours. Have class again tonight, then working Doubles Thur, Fri and Saturday, Johnson Co in the afternoon shift, and Marion Co in the evenings, god I lvoe my life!! Well talk to ya later Jason" I very much looked up to Jason, especially after he got hired as a full time merit deputy with the Marion County Sheriff's Department. Jason was living out everything that I was still hoping to accomplish. Also Jason always seemed to give me the right advise on things, even if at the time I wouldn't listen. I often realized after the fact that Jason was right. It is too bad that Jason was gone before I finally got sworn in as a full time officer with the Muncie Police Department. But I know that he was watching over me as it happened and as I went through I.L.E.A. Jason, in his two years as a merit deputy, quickly garnered the respect of fellow officers, and received commendations for his job performance. As I continue my own police career, I strive to mold myself into the kind of officer Jason was. Those are big shoes to try to fill. When former Sheriff Jack Cottey swore Jason in as a merit deputy, Jason told him that he would make the Sheriff proud. At Jason's funeral, Sheriff Cottey confirmed that Jason more than kept that promise. I just hope that I can make Jason proud.
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Early in the evening on September 17, 2001 Marion County Sheriff's Department Deputy Jason Baker was enroute to a "domestic disturbance" call. He then observed a vehicle that caught his attention near 52nd St. and Keystone on the north side of Indianapolis, and tried to effect a traffic stop on the vehicle. The vehicle would not stop and a pursuit ensued. Durig the chase, one of the suspects popped open the sunroof of the car and opened fire on Jason's squad car with an assault rifle. Jason's car being riddled with gunfire, he dropped out of the lead of the chase, but stayed in it. Jason knew he could not let criminals like he was chasing get away. The chase wound its way to the area of 32nd St. and Brouse. The driver and one remaining passenger of the car bailed out of the vehicle, spraying bullets as they did so. Jason was struck by one of these bullets before he could even stop and exit his squad car. Emergency medical personell tried to rush Jason to the hospital, but he did not make it. On that fatefull Monday evening, just six days after the terror attacks of 9-11-01 and eight days before Jason's 25th birthday, I lost a good friend, the Marion County Sheriff's Department lost one of its better deputies, and the greater Indianapolis community lost a true hero and protector. Jason will be truly missed.
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I first started talking to Jason as I neared graduation from college in the late spring of 1998. We started talking because we both were looking to become full time law enforcement officers. I finally met Jason in person on 5-10-98. We went bike riding on the Monon Trail and hung out a little. The next morning he sent me an email that said, "Jon, Hey it was cool getting to meet you yesterday.. It was great to meet you and get to know you. If you ever wanna hang out or do something, let me know.. I work a helluva lot, but have a few days off from time to time. ooh and remember you didnt get those IPD patches from me.. ha ha ha ha Well I gotta get going... hope to talk to you soon Jason" After I graduated from Ball State University, I had applied to a couple police departments, and was still looking for a job in the Indianapolis area. Jason, being the ever-helpfull freind that he was told me in another email, "just thought I would let you know we are officially hiring at dispatch... If you were interested in working for MCSD let me know.. well I will prob call ya on days off.. talk to ya later Jason" I did not get the chance to hang out with Jason as much as I would have liked to, due to his busy schedule at the time. But I understood his dedication to work and how much he loved his job. Jason talked about his schedule some in two other email excerpts. "This is a hellish weekend, 16 hour day Friday, and an 18 hour day today, but Im off Sun and Mon.. so today will be hell... after only 4 hours sleep!!! so hows the new F/T position comming along??? Well I need to get a nap B4 my realy hellacious day begins.. talk to ya later, I will try to call ya Sunday, see whats up.. L8TR bud Jason" "jon, Sorry I didnt call you back last night or yesterday. When I got your page I was on the monon trial w/ my dad, and I kinda forgot untill I was on my way to work at 5 pm.. I worked 12 hours. Have class again tonight, then working Doubles Thur, Fri and Saturday, Johnson Co in the afternoon shift, and Marion Co in the evenings, god I lvoe my life!! Well talk to ya later Jason" I very much looked up to Jason, especially after he got hired as a full time merit deputy with the Marion County Sheriff's Department. Jason was living out everything that I was still hoping to accomplish. Also Jason always seemed to give me the right advise on things, even if at the time I wouldn't listen. I often realized after the fact that Jason was right. It is too bad that Jason was gone before I finally got sworn in as a full time officer with the Muncie Police Department. But I know that he was watching over me as it happened and as I went through I.L.E.A. Jason, in his two years as a merit deputy, quickly garnered the respect of fellow officers, and received commendations for his job performance. As I continue my own police career, I strive to mold myself into the kind of officer Jason was. Those are big shoes to try to fill. When former Sheriff Jack Cottey swore Jason in as a merit deputy, Jason told him that he would make the Sheriff proud. At Jason's funeral, Sheriff Cottey confirmed that Jason more than kept that promise. I just hope that I can make Jason proud.