After 50 years the memory of Lt. Russell Baldwin is still honored by his family, friends, and successors in the Blue Line.
Tuesday marked the 50th anniversary of the night the Crawfordsville police officer was killed in the line of duty. His death came as he responded to a report of an armed robbery at 9 p.m. Aug. 27, 1974, at the Grab It Here grocery store on East Market Street. Dispatch gave Baldwin a description of the suspect and minutes later at 9:07 p.m. the officer pulled the suspect’s vehicle over in the 300 block of Lafayette Avenue. As Baldwin was exiting his patrol car, the suspect William “Billy” Gaddis of Indianapolis had already exited his car and was walking towards Baldwin. Gaddis fired three rounds at Baldwin, killing him.
“May we never neglect the legacy Russ has left behind,” said CPD Chaplain Alan Goff in his opening prayer at a memorial gathering at Milligan Park. “Help us to continue celebrating his life well lived and his courage to stand up for what is moral and right.”
More than 40 local officers, including a few retirees, Mayor Todd Barton and a host of Baldwin family members and friends gathered around a memorial marker near the entrance to Baldwin Field to share prayers, stories, and gratitude. The group arrived at the park after participating in a processional that traveled from the current police department past the site of Baldwin’s death, Hunt & Son Funeral Home where his services were held and the City Building, which used to house the police department, before arriving at the park.
Crawfordsville Police Chief Aaron Mattingly was grateful for the conversations he has had, and the relationships formed with members of Baldwin’s family.
“Russell Baldwin was a caring man who loved his family and friends dearly,” he said. “I hear he was a little bit of a prankster and always up for a good laugh. He was a person who enjoyed life, embracing, and enjoying every moment.
“Russell Baldwin made a great impact on those around him. He absolutely was taken too soon, but I know his memory and legacy will live on.”
Some of those left to cherish Baldwin’s memory took a few moments Tuesday to share stories about him.
His son, Gene “Po” Baldwin, who resides in Florida, recalled how his father tried for four years to join the police department and how excited he was when he was hired.
“He loved serving the people of this community,” Po Baldwin said. “He especially loved helping young people and working with the other officers.”
He shared how grateful and proud he is of the community for supporting the Baldwin family 50 years ago and for every day since.
“Thank you for remembering him,” he added.
Brenda Johnson also traveled from her home in Edinburgh to attend Tuesday’s ceremony. She was the dispatcher on duty the night Baldwin was killed.
“It took me a long time to get over it,” she said. “I was so young when it happened, I was 22.”
Johnson and her husband were friends with Baldwin and his wife, Mary Lou, and often socialized together.
“Besides losing an officer, I lost a good friend,” she said.
Johnson stayed on as a dispatcher for a few years after Baldwin’s death, but the job was never the same.
“It warms my heart some, but it also hurts my heart to think that I was probably the last person who got to talk with him,” Johnson said. “It’s hard ... some people have such good hearts, like Russ, and then some have such evil hearts like him (Gaddis).”
Johnson hopes all officers, especially the younger ones, take heed and recognize that every call is serious, and they can never take their safety for granted.
That is a message echoed by Henry Carrell, a nephew of Baldwin who works for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
“When I say, ‘be safe’ to the officers, it’s heartfelt,” he said. “This left such an impact on the family, the community, the officers ... We don’t want any other family to have to endure this.”
Memories of that night still haunt Rick Wilson. He was a rookie assigned to work with Baldwin and was one of the first officers to reach Baldwin’s side after the shooting. He recalls rolling Baldwin over in the roadway, rain beating down on them, and inspecting his wounds.
“I knew he was gone,” Wilson said. “Those details never left me.”
A deep admiration for Baldwin also remains with Wilson. The former detective who retired after 41 years with the CPD said he remembers Baldwin as a master at de-escalating situations and someone who embodied the art of persuasion, which was necessary in the days before pepper spray and tasers.
“Russ was the kind of officer who always had your back, and more often than not he had your front too,” Wilson said.
