Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Farley was shot and killed while transporting two suspects to police headquarters for questioning. Sergeant Farley had been conducting surveillance of a suspicious vehicle on South State Street after receiving information that it belonged to a robbery suspect. He stopped a man and woman who approached the car and began to question them. He handcuffed the male suspect in front and was going to take them to the police station in his patrol car but the car broke down. He instead drove the suspect's vehicle. During the ride to the station the man produced a .38 caliber handgun from his front coat pocket and shot Sergeant Farley in the side. The suspect fled the scene and was apprehended a short time later hiding in a locker. The man was convicted of the murder and executed by firing squad at the Utah State Prison on July 1, 1955. Sergeant Farley had been with the agency for ten years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-UT-67C83CBC- 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.
Sergeant Farley gave the Salt Lake City Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Salt Lake City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Farley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Owen T. Farley 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 UT, 84 of 138 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this state's fallen. That is 6.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Salt Lake City Police Department, 14 of 23 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Owen T. Farley's cause is highlighted.
How Owen T. Farley Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1955
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Owen T. Farley is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Owen T. Farley was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
22 officers from Salt Lake City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
