Curtis R. Baker, a 45-year-old African American male, was a dedicated police officer with the Chicago Police Department. On June 2, 1984, Officer Baker was tragically shot to death during an armed robbery at approximately 1:30 a.m. The incident occurred in the fourth-floor stairwell of the Robert Taylor Homes, located at 4500 South State Street in Chicago, Illinois. Officer Baker was off duty and in plainclothes, escorting a tenant into the building when three men trailed them.
One of the men announced a robbery, and as Officer Baker attempted to draw his service revolver, he was fatally shot in the left side of the chest by one of the assailants. He was pronounced dead at 2:00 a.m. at Michael Reese Hospital.
The suspects involved in the murder of Curtis R. Baker were identified as Bernard Lash, age 19, David Govan, age 24, and Eugene Jackson, age 19, all residents of the Robert Taylor Homes. The three men were charged with murder and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. They were ordered held without bond following their arrest. The investigation revealed that the suspects had trailed Officer Baker and the tenant into the building, and during the attempted robbery, Lash shot Officer Baker before he could fire his weapon. The bullet perforated his heart and liver, leading to his immediate death.
Officer Baker had served with the Chicago Police Department for 16 years and was assigned to the Mass Transit Unit. He was a respected member of the force and had previously served in the Armed Forces from 1961 to 1963. His death was a significant loss to the community and the police department. Officer Baker was survived by his wife, son, and daughter. His funeral was held at Emmanuel Baptist Church, and he was laid to rest in Lincoln Cemetery in Chicago.
The case of Curtis R. Baker's murder highlighted the dangers faced by police officers, even when off duty. The swift identification and arrest of the suspects demonstrated the effectiveness of the police investigation. The legal proceedings against Lash, Govan, and Jackson were closely followed, and their conviction brought some measure of justice for Officer Baker's family and colleagues.
