Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Shortly after I became a Detective, I partnered on almost every case with Jim. I was closer to Jim than I am with my own brother, and we stayed close after I left the Police Department. I had lunch with Jim hours before he was killed. I was honored to have delivered the eulogy at his funeral, which I based on some thoughts I had written at the request of his clergyman the day he died:

I lost my friend today.

He was a compass for what was right, and good, and just. He was what was "right" with the police department. He was compassionate when others were critical. He judged others by what they were made of, not what they looked like. His word was better than a guarantee. If he said it would get done, you could carve the commitment in stone. Jim looked out for the little guy. He never participated in gossip, and would let you know he didn't want to be a part of the conversation if it was going to tear someone else down. I never walked through a door when I was with him that he didn't hold open for me. He buoyed me up when my father was critically ill, and made sure I was taken care of.

Jim was a sounding board for dilemmas. He never gave you a solution, but he led you there so that you could learn along the way. He took me as a good cop and made me an exceptional one. He always put my career ahead of his, and always said "Rich, this is the case that's gonna make you famous." When I was called by Delta Corporate Security about the job I hold now, I went to him for advice. He made me feel comfortable about leaving a job I loved and a career that was on the fast track with the police department. He was my advocate. He was my mentor. He showed me what a quality product looked like, so that I'd know how to deliver quality in the future.

Jim was all about helping others. As we were out and about in town, Jim would always pull over to be a back-up for another cop, no matter which department, who was on a traffic stop alone. I've been to dozens of accidents with Jim just like the one he was killed in today, where he'd stop to offer aid. His comfort was always second place to making sure others were taken care of.

He made me fat. I've been to every good restaurant in Salt Lake City with my friend. I got called this morning and it was Jim. He said "Hey, it's burrito day at the golf course, let's go" and we were off. I probably ate in Tony Caputo's place with Jim three times before Tony's doors ever opened for business. We loved Caputo's. We spoke of it again today at lunch. Jim introduced me to frozen custard at Nielsen's. We stopped frequently at Arctic Circle to get an ice cream cone. I loved to make Jim's skin crawl, because he hated to see or hear people chew ice or bite into an ice cream cone or fudge cicle. It gave him goose bumps, and that made me laugh.

He was deathly afraid of needles, and I almost died laughing when we both went to get our flu shots one year and the nurse literally chased him around the room with him cringing. I wish he'd just been teasing, but it was even funnier knowing he was genuinely afraid--this big hulk of a man, and a cop to boot, afraid to take his shot!

We would exchange e-mail and jokes, and he loved to laugh.

I will miss laughing with, and, sometimes, at my friend. I will miss eating with him. I will miss his e-mails. I will miss him telling me, proudly, about his kids, or about something funny that his dad had done, or about how he felt about God and love and how quietly spiritual he was. We have lost someone good. We have lost someone of great character and foundation. We have lost a genuine public servant. We have lost a piece of civility in what has become an all too uncivilized world. We have lost a beacon for common sense. We have lost a hero.

I lost my friend today, my brother. I will miss him dearly.

--Rich Newman, September 18, 2001


Jim, God bless you and your family. Thank you for enriching my life.

Sr. Corp. Security Rep. Richard Newman
Delta Air Lines Corporate Security

MANY OF US AT SLC PUBLIC UTILTIES HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND MANY SUMMERS WITH JIM PLAYING SOFTBALL. HE WAS ALWAYS A JOY TO BE WITH. WE WILL ALL MISS HIM GREATLY.

PUBLIC UTILTIES

My good friend Sgt. James E. Faraone will be missed dearly and never forgotten for his wonderful heart. Sgt. Faraone died by placing his vehicle in harm's way to protect a stranded motorist.

I called him, "SGT. FROSTY" due to his voice sounding exactly like "Frosty The Snowman" and his demeanor just as kind.

Good bye my friend. I miss you every day.
Officer Tiffany Blair
SLCCPD

Officer Tiffany Blair
SLCCPD

Your act of kindness will always be remembered, being in an unmarked unit you could have just driven on by, but you didn't. Thank you for doing the job.

Police Officer Tim Pappas
Cincinnati Police/SWAT

Sgt Faraone,

As I drove in your funeral procession with other
co-workers, I was moved to tears seeing your fellow officers standing at full attention as they blocked traffic the whole way. I recognized all the faces and some had tears in their eyes, putting more in mine. When one of my own broadcast your final call on the air, I fell
apart. I realized what a great asset our Department had lost that fateful Tuesday. Even though I never met you, this Dispatcher spoke to you often on air and phone.
I've passed you in the corridors of 1019 and I wish now I had stopped to speak with you. I'll speak with you here and thank you for touching me so. You inspire me to work even harder, for my first loyalty is to my men and women in blue, for they cannot protect the citizens unless they are protected and served themselves by Dispatch.

Thank you Jim, may God bless you and your beautiful family.

Anonymous

Off. Fararone will alway be remembered as a person who always had a smile on his face, was kind and considerate of others, a devoted family man and possessed a sense of humor that cheered up everyone around him. He was one of a kind and will be missed.

Sergeant Louie Muniz
Salt Lake City Police

The thoughts and prayers of the Fruita Police Department go out to Sgt. Faraone's family and friends.

Please know that we stand with you and if we cannot help you with our hands, we will help you with our prayers and thoughts.

Sergeant Tobey Whitney
Fruita Police Department (Colorado)

Jim - You always cared about people even those who disagreed with you...you tried to heal feelings that had been damaged...you never gave up, you always were looking out for the other person. I admired you and your perserverance and devotion. Rest in God's peace.

Capt. Judy Dencker
SLCPD

I had occassion to associate with Jim many times whether training him on the computer or seeing him at the station and was shocked and saddened at the news of his passing. I always felt he was a great person and fun to be around. He always made me feel at ease and was one of the ones that would make sure to say Hi if he saw me.

Since his death, I have heard many, many good things about him and his dedication to his profession, family, community and people in general. We have truly lost a wonderful man and fellow human being but, I know that all those who came in contact with him are better because of it.

Mike Rakes - IT Project Mgr.
Salt Lake City Corp.

I will miss you my friend. Your ready smile, your knowledge, your laugh will be sorely missed. You will always be in my thoughts and prayers.

Peggy Call, Crime Analyst
SLCPD

Jim:

Keep those funny E-mails coming and if you can, let out one of your infectious laughs once in a while so we can smile in remembrance. You and your family have all of our love.

Technician M. Warner
SLCIA Airport Police Department

I worked with Sgt. Faraone when he was stationed at Pioneer Park and I was on the staff of Travelers Aid Society. He was always gracious and generous with both staff and shelter residents, and treated all of us equally. He was a fine human being and one of the good people in life.

karen denton
salt city mayor's office

There is no more noble and honorable way to move on from this life than in the service of our fellow man. I pray for the family and those who worked alongside him. May we all take his memory and those of the many others who give their lives to the cause of justice.

Officer J. Adams
Orem DPS

Rest in Peace Sgt. Faraone.

Anonymous

My prayer to Sergeant Faraone's family. This time is very taxing on you I'm sure. Take comfort in the fact that he did not die in vain. Rather, he gave the ultimate example for us to live by. Service to our fellow man. May he rest in piece, and may you always keep his memory alive. God bless you in your hours of pain.

Dax Gurr

You are not forgotten! We will continue to do the job in your honor and in memory of you and all who laid down their lives so that we could live in a civilized society. We are stronger because of you. Rest in peace.

PTLM. .M.W. LUDLOW
PALMYRA POLICE DEPT., NJ

I am saddened by this tragic loss of a former colleague and friend. Jim loved what he did and he always had a smile to give. He will be missed by all who knew and worked with him. May God bless his family.

Inspector Craig M. Hales
U.S. Postal Inspection Service

To the family and police dept.
I personally know how it feels to have a officer killed by a vehicle. My officer was setting beside the highway assisiting the highway patrol and sheriff dept when the subject they were chasing rammed his vehicle into my officers vehicle killing him instantly.
So our hearts goes out to you, and may God bless each of you.

Chief Danny Russ
Bladenboro Police Dept

My thoughts and prayers go out to family, friends and co-workers. God bless..

Sgt. Jeff Swenson
Lehi Police Department

Another one of Utah's finest taken from us.....Pray this is the last one.

Thank you for your 25 years of service to your community. God speed, big man... God speed.

Anonymous

"No greater love"...he place his car and body between a citizen in need and danger. God Bless and be with James Faraone.

officer Adam Houghton
Jefferson County Police Department, Louisville Ky.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Officers, Friends, and Family, of Sergeant Faraone, who have been left behind. God Bless.

Officer Brian J. Gwilliam
Alpine/Highland Utah

Another senseless death. We have been hit hard in Utah lately, the holes that are left when these Heroes are called Home are immense and will never be filled.
Thank You for all of your years of service. May God Speed your journey to heaven. Our prayers are with your family and department.

Kenny Rose
Lehi Police Department (Utah)

Family and Friends, we will be faithful to pray for you to find comfort and peace.

Cathy Hill
Widow ~ Deputy Barrett Travis Hill
E.O.W. 12/4/00

Cathy Hill, Widow
Harris County Sheriff's Department, TX

To Sergeant Faraone family and friends our thoughts and prayers go out to you.

God Bless you

Terry Miyares
widow
Officer Emilio Miyares
Hialeah Police Dept, Florida
E/O/W 11/6/86

Terry Miyares,
Hialeah Police Dept.