Fred Babcock began his duties as a police officer for the Richfield Police Department in December 1947.
On Friday, June 3, 1949, Fred Babcock was working an extra shift so another officer could have the night off. Babcock and his partner Leroy Poulter were responding to a break-in and suspicious vehicle report near the National Team grocery store, according to a copy of Poulter´s 1949 report.
Driving the squad car, Babcock dropped off Poulter to cover the side door of the store. After finding the suspicious vehicle empty, Babcock headed toward the front of the grocery store. Simultaneously, Poulter spotted a figure running east from the side door toward Garfield Avenue and heard Babcock shout, "Get out of the car." Then he heard a gun shot.
Moments later, according to the report, Poulter heard Babcock repeat his command which was again followed by a gunshot. The shooter was standing in front of a parked car and he leveled a deer rifle and shot Officer Babcock.
On June 7, 1949, the perpetrators were captured, the same day Babcock was laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. In death, Babcock left behind his wife Lorraine and two young children. When local veterans founded Richfield Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5555, they named it in honor of Babcock.