The Shelbyville Police Department honored the life and career of Lieutenant Mike Baker, who passed away after serving the department for more than 30 years.
Baker began his law enforcement career on Aug. 14, 1987, and served until his retirement on Jan. 30, 2018. Rising through the ranks from patrolman to sergeant and, ultimately, lieutenant. He was known for his courage, sharp instincts, and approachable nature.
“Mike was one of a kind. His presence filled the room the moment he walked in,” the department wrote in a post on social media.
Shelbyville Police Chief Jan Phillips said Baker worked the night shift his entire career—even when offered the day shift. When other officers returned to a normal schedule on their off-days, Baker never changed. “If Lt. Baker was going to call you, and he would,” Phillips said, “you could count on the phone to ring late at night. He surely lived by his own clock.”
“Whether on patrol, mentoring younger officers, or supporting families in times of crisis, Lt. Baker embodied what it means to wear the badge with honor,” said Phillips. “His legacy lives on in the lives he touched, the officers he trained, and the peace he helped to preserve.”
Family, friends, and colleagues gathered Saturday, Sept. 20, at Shelbyville Mills Baptist Church to celebrate his life.
