Salt Lake City Police Department Honoring Our Fallen
Sergeant Owen T. Farley Killed in the Line of Duty May 23, 1951
Sergeant Owen T. Farley, 37, was shot and killed by a robbery suspect. After arresting a man and woman in possession of a car that investigators believed was used in a robbery in Ogden, Farley transported them to police headquarters for questioning.
As he pulled away from the curb at this location, the male suspect produced a gun and shot him in the stomach. Farley died a short time later at a local hospital. Married and the father of three children, he is buried in the Heber City Cemetery.
Monty Luke joined the Utah Highway Patrol in 1936. He resided at his hometown of Junction, Piute County, his entire career. On December 2, 1959, Trooper Luke was traveling on U.S. 89 six miles south of Circleville. It is believed he was possibly chasing a car when he swerved to miss several deer crossing the roadway. His patrol car left the roadway, rolled down and embankment, and landed in the Sevier River. Trooper Luke was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene. The scene of the accident is approximately 12 miles north of this location.
Lynn Pierson joined the Utah Highway Patrol in 1974. He served at the Heber Port of Entry and in field operations in Moab. On November 7, 1978, just two days after transferring to his hometown of Panguitch, he stopped a pickup truck, which unknown to Trooper Pierson, was stolen. As Lynn approached the vehicle, the driver produced a .357 revolver and shot Trooper Pierson, striking him in the heart. Trooper Pierson managed to fire six rounds at the suspect as he sped away. Trooper Pierson died at the scene. The suspect was later apprehended and pleaded guilty to murder. The scene of this homicide occurred on State Road 20 approximately 3 miles west of this location.
The first known Utah law enforcement officer to give his life in the line of duty was Great Salt Lake County Deputy Sheriff Rodney Badger, one of the original 1847 pioneers. He drowned in 1853 in the Weber River while on assignment from Brigham Young to assist pioneers who were fording the river.
On April 29, 1853, several wagons were lined up along the river, waiting to make the treacherous crossing. The Water was ice cold and running fast and deep. The first wagon made it safely across. The second wagon, carrying an immigrant family with six children, was too light to make the crossing. The father was given stern warnings by the wagon master and Deputy Badger to ford the river without his family. These warnings were ignored. As the wagon entered the river, the strong current began to drag it uncontrollably downstream into deeper water. The wagon overturned, spilling the mother and children into the frigid waters. The father remained with the team. Without hesitation, Deputy Badger dove into the river and rescued the mother and four of the children. Continuing to ignore his own safety, Deputy Badger swam back out to retrieve the remaining two children. The elements finally overcame him, and he disappeared from sight, giving his life to save others. The river also claimed the lives of the two children which 30-year-old Deputy Badger attempted to save. An immediate search located the body of one child the next day. The body of the second child was not located until three months later. History does not record what happened to the surviving family members. They may have gone on to California which was the family’s destination when they joined the wagon train.
Eighteen months passed before the remains of Deputy Badger were found on an island 1-½ miles below the place he entered the water. His remains were returned to Salt Lake City where his wife and four children resided. Rodney was a counselor in the Salt Lake 15th Ward Bishopric at the time of his death.
In a letter informing Badger’s wife of the tragedy, an eye witness, William H. Hooper observed, “To offer you condolence for such a loss would be useless, as my feeling while I write overpowers me, and what must be yours, his wife, to lose a husband who was beloved by all men who knew him … it is useless to say the shock to me is great and the camp is in gloom. P.S. the mother and four children were saved.”
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” –John 15:13
Since the above plaque was erected in 1998 additional information has come to light indicating this event probably took place at an early Weber River ford in Uintah twenty-nine miles down stream from here that was used by emigrants leaving the Utah Territory for California. After deliberation it was determined that it was not practical to move the marker and that the story needed to be told, so it was left in this place.
Age: 44 Utah County Sheriff’s Office Homicide: Shooting
Sgt. Cory Wride, 44, was shot and killed while on uniformed patrol while assisting a stranded motorist.
After encountering a pickup truck with flashing blinkers at the side of the State Road 73 between Eagle Mountain and Cedar Fort, Sgt. Wride radioed dispatch to advise that he was pulling over to assist.
During the stop, Sgt. Wride returned to his patrol vehicle for some paperwork. The passenger in the suspect vehicle opened the back window of the truck and fired on Sgt. Wride with a 9mm handgun, killing him. The suspects fled the scene and were encountered again in Santaquin, where a second deputy was wounded. The suspects fled south on I-15 and carjacked a vehicle in Nephi. At a roadblock set up by Juab County deputies, the suspect was shot and critically wounded. He died the following day. The driver of the car, a 17-year-old girl, was sentenced to prison.
Married and the father of five children, Sgt. Wride had served with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office nearly 20 years.(text from utahsfallen.org)
This memorial is located along Highway 73 near Eagle Mountain, Utah.
At 11:30 p.m. Saturday, February 16, 1924, Officers William N. Huntsman and Brigham H. Honey Jr. heard a shot fired outside the State Cafe, 46 W. Broadway, which was being robbed. Both officers pursued the suspect to this location (315 S Main St) and a gun battle ensued. Huntsman, 26, was killed immediately, while Honey, 34, died several hours later. They are buried near each other in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
To learn more about the fallen officers of Salt Lake City, visit slcpd.com
Erected by Police History Project and the PMAA, May 2011.
At 11:30 p.m. Saturday, February 16, 1924, Officers William N. Huntsman and Brigham H. Honey Jr. heard a shot fired outside the State Café, 46 W. Broadway, which was being robbed. Both officers pursued the suspect to this location and a gun battle ensued. Huntsman, 26, was killed immediately, while Honey, 34, died several hours later. They are buried near each other in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
According to police, Adams stopped a suspected drunken driver at 2100 N. 1200 West just before 11 p.m. Friday. Adams reportedly ticketed the man for DUI and asked him to step out of his vehicle. In the process of being handcuffed, the man was somehow able to free one hand, grab a small handgun and begin shooting, Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt. Dennis Harris said.
A wounded Adams was still able to shoot the assailant numerous times before the man got into his car and drove away with Adams’ handcuffs dangling from one wrist.(*)
Dunman was on afternoon bike patrol at this location when a vehicle jumped the curb and struck him from behind. The 30-year-old officer suffered massive head injuries and died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Following an investigation, the suspect was charged with negligent homicide. An earlier drug charge was also reactivated. Regardless, he secured bail and subsequently fled the country.
Officer Dunman was married and the father of three children. He is buried in the Bountiful City Cemetery.
