Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Thank you all for the kind words and thoughts. I am his granddaughter and will share them with my family. I love hearing stories about him.

Trisha Callison
Granddaughter

September 28, 2023

Thank you for your service and please know that your sacrifice will never be forgotten. Rest in peace always.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

July 16, 2020

"Old Man Farrow" is what everyone called him, and everyone liked him. He was a sometimes slightly grumpy man, but typically was quiet, unobtrusive, and never abusive to inmates. Officer Farrow ran the Vegetable Room, where I held my first regular prison job. I personally liked Officer Farrow, and felt a warmness in my heart that he was only a week or so away from retirement. On that horrible day, I had the day off from work for a reason I no longer recall. I was shocked and saddened to learn that Officer Farrow had been stabbed to death with a butcher knife by a psychotic inmate who operated the potato peeling machine. This inmate talked to himself frequently, and sometimes did so in a way that made anyone near him wary and watchful for their own safety. I never turned my back on him, as I always felt he was dangerous, and could not understand why such persons were incarcerated, rather than treated in a hospital for the insane. Officer Farrow, RIP. To his loved ones, I am sorry for the grief you endured. This is just one of the many dreadful memories I carry to this day of man's inhumanity to man. Thank you God for not allowing these darker days to ruin my heart of love for my fellow human beings.

none
none

March 28, 2015

I never met Walter but I knew his son Ron Farrow when he and I worked at the U S Medical Center for Federal Prisoners at Springfield, Missouri. Not long before Walter was murdered Ron and I were working a cell block (10-C) in the psychiatric area on the 4-12 shift. There were several real “psychos” housed in 10-C . One of them had been involved in taking some officers hostage at the Federal Reformatory at El Reno, Oklahoma as I recall but there were several others in the unit who were equally “volatile”. One of them was a little Mexican by the name of Guadalupe Pena.

About 5:00 P M we were in process of letting the inmates out of their cells to watch TV. Ron was on the second floor gallery releasing inmates from their cell and I was on the main ground floor. After I had released the inmates on “the flag” I sat down behind the seated inmates to watch the evening news headlines.
Suddenly inmate Pena grabbed me by the throat from behind in what I assumed was an attempt to choke me. I grabbed his hands at my throat, stood up, flipped him over my shoulder and pinned him to the floor. Ron came to my aid and said “Ivan you’re bleeding”.
Pena had a razor blade taped to his fingers and was trying for my jugular. He didn’t succeed at that but he did slice my throat 8 or ten times and one was all the way through my shirt collar. Ron helped me pick Pena up and lock him in his cell. I was ordered to go home for the evening. Not long after this incident Walter was murdered and Ron resigned to be with his family. I’d love to hear from him so if anyone can put him in contact with me I’d appreciate it.

Ivan L Fail, Sparta, MO
1960-1961 FCI, Lompoc, CA
1961-1963 USP, Leavenworth, Kansas
1963 through 1988 USMCFP, Sgf, MO

SOS Ivan L Fail
Retired Federal Prison Service

July 20, 2011

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 31rst anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer who was murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered.

Rest In Peace.

Phyllis Loya

Phyllis Loya
mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater

July 16, 2010

"The Badge"

He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.

He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.

Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.

He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.

His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.

He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.

And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.

But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.

Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.

Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.

So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.

In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.

Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.

Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

December 6, 2007

I was an officer at the K.C. Honor Center when Farrow was murdered behind the Walls. I was assaulted while on duty by an inmate with a pad lock on a chain. I survived. I am so sorry you your lose. I am sure he is with Jesus in Haven. R.I.P. God Bless, Larry Beaty

CO1 Larry Beaty
an Officer 1979-1980

February 11, 2007

Officer Farrow,
As one officer wrote in another fallen officer's reflection-"No fallen officer should be without a reflection." I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of the state of Missouri. There is no tougher job in Law Enforcement than that of a Corrections Officer.

R.I.P.
Anonymous

July 1, 2005