Michael D. Farber

Nebraska State Patrol — Lincoln, NE

Felonious

End of Watch August 24, 1980

Age 24

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Badge 427

The Vigil Panel 123 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 14

Incident

Trooper Michael Farber was killed after being intentionally struck by a teenager fleeing other officers for stealing gas. After not paying $13.43 for gasoline at a station near Pleasant Dale exit on Interstate 80, the juvenile led officers on a high-speed pursuit for over 50 miles, driving at speeds of more than 100 mph. While traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes, the juvenile drove the vehicle into the median of I-80, west of the Hampton Interchange, near Aurora, Nebraska, and struck Trooper Farber. The 15-year-old suspect fled on foot after crashing his vehicle, but was apprehended an hour later. He was tried as an adult, convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to 10 years. He was released in January of 1986. Trooper Farber had been with the Nebraska State Patrol for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, Colleen, and his unborn son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NE-BCA52142
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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.
Trooper Farber gave the Nebraska State Patrol 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Nebraska. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Farber.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Nebraska State Patrol

Location Lincoln, NE

Platform Identity nhp.ne.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 24, 1980

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 24

Badge Number 427

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

Offender vehicle pursuit

Trooper Michael D. Farber 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 NE, 97 of 151 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.2% of this state's fallen. That is 10 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Nebraska State Patrol, 5 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Nebraska State Patrol

of 15 officers

33.3% Felonious

NE — Statewide

of 151 officers

64.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious