The City of Washington Police Department announced on Monday that retired Chief Kenneth L. Baker Sr. passed away on his 85th birthday, July 25, 2025, in St. Clair Hospital. He became a member of the City of Washington Police Department in 1963 and retired in 1983 as Chief of Police. He was appointed Chief County Detective in the Washington County District Attorney’s office in 1984, where he served until 1989 at which time he began working at Washington and Jefferson College as the first director of protection services, a position he held until 2002 when he retired. Friends and family will be received from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, with a Fraternal Order of Police Service being held at 7 p.m. in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where a funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 30. Interment will be private. (Photo courtesy of City of Washington Police Department Facebook)