Funeral service held for deceased Nicholas County deputy

SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — Law enforcement from across the country joined Nicholas County residents and others Wednesday in remembering the life of a Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department member.

The funeral for Deputy Tom Baker happened five days after he died while serving a warrant at a Birch River residence. Another member of the department, Cpl. Josh Ellison, was shot in the leg in the incident.

People filled the bleachers of the Summersville Armory and Conference Center as local sheriff’s deputies sat in front of Baker’s casket. Nicholas County Commissioner Garret Cole told MetroNews before the service that law enforcement from Texas, California, Florida and other states were among the people who came to pay their respects. Members of other West Virginia agencies also attended the service.

Deputy Tom Baker (Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department)

“As I took the office of sheriff, I knew there would be hard and trying days that lay ahead,” Sheriff William Nunley told attendees. “This is one of those days with the loss of one of Nicholas County’s finest, Deputy Thomas C. Baker III.”

Baker, 48, had two stints as a law enforcement officer; he took a seven-year break and held positions at a strip mine, insurance office, car dealership and bondsman office. He returned to the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department to further explore his passion for law enforcement.

“When he came into my office and he talked to me about switching back to being a policeman, he says, ‘Pastor, a policeman is who I am. I am a policeman to the core,” said Pastor Allen Travis of Restoration Fellowship in Mt. Nebo.

“He loved all of you guys,” Travis told the deputies sitting before him. “He couldn’t wait to be part of the team again.”

Pastor Aaron Evans, Baker’s nephew, said he refuses to state the community “lost Tom” in the June 3 altercation.

“You only lose something that you don’t know where it’s at,” Evans said. “I can tell you right now, I know exactly where Tom Baker is at. Tom Baker was a proud, true Christian man. We didn’t lose Tom; Tom is in another place. Tom is in heaven right now.”

The Nicholas County Commission presented a proclamation recognizing Baker’s service in law enforcement. Senate Minority Leader Stephen Baldwin, D-Greenbrier, read a similar proclamation from the West Virginia Senate.

“On behalf of a very grateful state, we thank the family because we know he was not the only one who made sacrifices. You all did as well,” Baldwin said.

Nunley announced Baker’s posthumous promotion to sergeant during the service. Deputies also paid tribute to Baker with an “end of watch” call recognizing him for his time with the department.

Baker and Ellison were serving a warrant to Ryan Kelly and Ritchie Holcomb over a destruction of property complaint prior to the June 3  shooting. According to court documents, Kelly and Holcomb were initially cooperative before the discussion evolved into gunfire. Holcomb died in the altercation with law enforcement. Authorities arrested Kelley, who faces a first-degree murder charge.





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