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George Durst Farmer
Incident
Location: Texas Weapon: Person Offender: Killed in fall
Special Agent George Farmer died when he fell from the top of a moving train while struggling with a man he was attempting to arrest near Hockley, Texas.
Officers had been placed on all outbound freight trains leaving Houston due to a rash of burglaries. He was patrolling the top of the train when he encountered the man on top of a boxcar and attempted to arrest him. A struggle ensued during which Special Agent Farmer shot the man in the arm. The two continued to struggle until falling from the boxcar.
Special Agent Farmer suffered a skull fracture as a result of the fall and died. The subject he attempted to arrest was also killed in the fall.
Special Agent Farmer was survived by his parents and sister.
Survivors
Special Agent Farmer was survived by his parents and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Agent Farmer gave the Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Farmer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department has lost 23 officers; 15 of them killed feloniously.
George is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
George is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
George is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1929, 1 officer at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1929, 4 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 101st heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1929, 205 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 12th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1929, 206 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 14th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
George was 24. Of the 15 killed feloniously at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 31.5 and 42; the middle age was 38. George had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
George was 24. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. George had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
George was 24. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. George had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
George was 24. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. George had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 13.3% of these deaths at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department; March holds the most, 20%. Saturdays: 13.3%.
January holds 9% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 16.4%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 65.2% of all 23 deaths at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 6.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 1.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 1.8% of these deaths.
His people
Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department has 23 officers remembered here, George among them.
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Samuel S. Leffler Nov 29, 1891
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Lenard Harris
May 16, 1894
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John Luckie Elsberry
Aug 16, 1895
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John Thomas Montague Jan 5, 1905
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Edward Shay Jul 13, 1909
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Joel Robert Dubose Sep 5, 1910
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James Jebty Pipes
Oct 2, 1911
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M. A. Moore Aug 30, 1912
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Scott Percy Yolton
Jan 6, 1918
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Edward Baker Sep 15, 1920
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James Nathaniel Malone
Jul 8, 1924
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Eveleigh Bollman Bates
Nov 8, 1924
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Printess Jackson Varnon
Mar 7, 1928
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George Durst Farmer
Jan 19, 1929
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William M. Schuldt Jul 2, 1930
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Henry Clyde Hatcher
Sep 23, 1931
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Lester E. Roland Aug 23, 1934
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John Baptist Bradberry Mar 16, 1935
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Jose Sancedo Aug 11, 1937
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Owen McManus
Mar 31, 1938
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George Richard Kebort Jul 8, 1949
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Oliver Columbus Grems
Apr 23, 1955
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Brice Leon Woody
Jul 23, 1965
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 38-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
22 officers from Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
