August 15, 2002
Flags at all national parks and at National Park Service offices around the country will fly at half staff until further notice in memory of Alexandria resident, Officer Hakim Farthing, a United Park Police officer who was killed on the Baltimore Washington Parkway last weekend.
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".
Farthing, 27, lived in Alexandria for two years since being assigned to the Anacostia detachment of the U. S. Park Police. He was directing traffic around a road closure early on the morning of Aug. 10, when he was struck and killed by a car that crashed through traffic cones onto the median. The driver has been charged with driving while intoxicated and involuntary manslaughter under federal criminal statutes.
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.