James Ephriam 'Jim' Baugh
Putnam County Sheriff's Department
Friday, January 2, 2004
Served: 36 years
Badge #: 67-6
Panel 39E, Line 24
Panel L24, Line 10
Incident Details
Cause of Death:Automobile accident
Date/Time of Incident:
Friday, January 2, 2004
04:25 pm
Incident to Death Duration:
Same day
Incident Location:
U.S. 231 at Big Walnut Creek
Incident County:
Putnam
Incident Township:
Greencastle
Weapon Used:
None
Suspect Disposition:
None
Burial Place:
New Providence Cemetery, Mount Meridian
Captain James Baugh was killed in a single-vehicle accident while responding to a minor property-damage accident.
After checking the area northbound, he proceeded southbound on U.S. 231. He lost control of his patrol car, hit an embankment and overturned into Big Walnut Creek.
He was trapped inside his squad for over 15 minutes before being transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where he died five hours later.
Captain Baugh, from Greencastle, had previously served as sheriff after being elected to office as a Republican in 1974 and 1978 to two, four-year terms.
He had also served with the Greencastle Police Department for four years.
Captain Baugh was survived by his wife, two sons, daughter-in-law, granddaughter and four sisters. One of his sons currently serves as the Putnam County sheriff.
Military Service
United States Air Force |
Memorial Tribute • In 2025, the bridge over Big Walnut Creek at U.S. 231 was dedicated the James Baugh Memorial Bridge in his honor. |
Read more on our research at Honoring Our Fallen Sheriffs.
Putnam County Sheriff's Department
Captain Baugh