Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer John Farris was stabbed to death after catching a subject attempting to break into a grocery store. The subject stabbed Officer Farris 11 times. The suspect fled in an automobile but was arrested after being shot four times in the thigh by officers when he tried to run through their roadblock in nearby Kellogg. The 21-year-old suspect had escaped from Montana State Penitentiary seven days earlier after serving two years of a 10-year sentence for larceny. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. On January 1, 1955, he escaped from the Idaho Penitentiary. He was stopped in a stolen car near Weiser seven weeks later, arrested, and returned to prison. His release date is not known, but he was free on June 7, 1971, the date he married in Montana. Officer Farris had served with the Wallace Police Department for three years and previously served with the Shoshone Cunty Sheriff's Offce.
Survivors
He was survived by his four children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-ID-0B6B5EEE- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Farris gave the Wallace Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wallace community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Farris.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer John C. Farris is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In ID, 44 of 71 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62% of this state's fallen. That is 7.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John C. Farris's cause is highlighted.
How John C. Farris Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John C. Farris is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John C. Farris was killed by edged weapon; knife.