NJ Cops Aug18 | Page 38

FRED’S CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37 Day, and that proclamation is renewed each year. Local 105 Pres- ident Brian Renshaw remembers the rippling of that July 30, 1997 day and the blur for the next several hours that led to Governor Whitman signing the vest order. At 2 p.m., every officer in the state refused to come to work until she signed the bill. “Lo and behold, the pressure of the union led to her signing the bill,” McConnell emphasized. “And still, it was 45 days of hell here after that.” Baker appeared to have fallen down steps when Lieutenant Lou Hall, the shift commander, shouted to Egbert, “Chuck, go see what’s up with Fred.” Egbert explained that Fred looked OK except for the fact that he fell. When Egbert made it to Fred, he saw that Baker had a wound no bigger than a pencil. He had been stabbed in the back with a weld- ing rod. Losing Fred has continued a legacy that will forever grow. After his death, Egbert started a memorial golf tournament that takes place the Monday following Father’s Day. He took it on for 20 years, and the PBA took over this past year. The tournament raises money to fund approximately 20 scholarships each year. Losing Fred has forever provided a rude awakening. Assembly- man Land revealed, “I worked in the system, oh maybe 15 years, be- fore this happened. And I got kind of lackadaisical because you don’t think something like this could happen.” Recruits at the State Corrections Academy are told of Baker on their first day to let them know how dangers are always lurking in the jails. All officers gathered at Bayside on this July 30 confirmed that they have never forgotten that. “Remember the sacrifice Fred made,” Rob Tomlin declared. “And also remember that this is a day we move forward and try to make the jails safer for everybody.” Kelly Baker also noted how that would make her husband happy, 38 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ AUGUST 2018 Rob and Ron Tomlin, who worked with Fred Baker, stand guard under the fl ag at half-staff during the ceremony at Bayside. and, accordingly, asked all officers to make sure to get home safe to their families. She shared that Fred wouldn’t want much more than that, either. “He would be happy if the folks here today, when they got done with their shifts and got home, would raise a beer and eat some chicken wings in his honor,” Kelly remarked. “That’s the kind of per- son he was.” 