United States Park Police Officer Makes the Ultimate Sacrifice

United States Park Police Officer Hakim Farthing, a devoted 2 year member assigned to the Anacostia Station, was struck by a vehicle and killed at approximately 3:35 AM on August 10, 2002, while maintaining a road closure on southbound Baltimore-Washington Parkway at the ramp to New York Avenue. This road closure was affected as a result of an ongoing investigation into a previous fatal motor vehicle accident that occurred on Route 50 at approximately 1:30 AM. The investigation into the officer's death is ongoing. The operator of the striking vehicle, Jovada Welch, a 20 year old female of Silver Spring, Maryland was arrested and charged Federally with Driving Under the Influence and Involuntary Manslaughter.

The United States Park Police Criminal Investigations Branch is actively investigating this incident and urges anyone who may have witnessed the accident to call the USPP Tipline at (202) 690-5080.

The outpouring of support and kind words has touched Chief of Police Teresa C. Chambers. "This is obviously a difficult time for the United States Park Police and all of its members. Words cannot express the feeling of gratitude to the Maryland State Police, Greenbelt City Police Department, Prince George's County Police Department, Prince George's County Fire Department and several other agencies that honored the life of Officer Hakim Farthing by their actions and their words".

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Last up dated  03/03/06 03:23 PM by vej