Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Gary Farrell was shot and killed while chasing a thief who had beaten and robbed a 72-year-old woman of her purse. He and another officer had chased the man into a wooded area near the intersection of Price Street and Wayne Avenue when he turned on the officers and opened fire, striking both multiple times. Officer Farrell and his partner returned fire. Officer Farrell and the suspect were killed. His partner was critically wounded. The 33-year-old subject was a career criminal out of prison on a weekend pass. Among the several officers who responded to the shots fired call were Officer Farrell's two brothers. Both had been shot and wounded in a gun battle with three men in 1975, just a few blocks away from where their brother was killed. Officer Farrell's wife was also a Philadelphia police officer. Officer Farrell had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for three years and was assigned to the 14th District.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-PA-AA01C8D8- 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.
Police Officer Farrell gave the Philadelphia Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Farrell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Garrett T. Farrell 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Philadelphia Police Department, 162 of 378 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Garrett T. Farrell's cause is highlighted.
How Garrett T. Farrell Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Garrett T. Farrell is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Garrett T. Farrell was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
