James Farner

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Service Record

California Highway Patrol

Rank	Sergeant
Dates of Service	Hired in March 1997.^[1]
Salary	$334,843 (2022)^[2]
Last Known Status	Active

Incident Reports

2021 Death of Charley McMurtry Jr

This incident mentions suicide.  If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 for immediate help 24/7.  Outside the U.S., please consult this list of suicide crisis lines.

On February 5, 2021, McMurtry was a passenger in a car driven by his wife when he started to cut his wrists with a knife and exited the moving vehicle on the freeway. His wife called police to report that McMurtry was in crisis and suicidal. Farner, other CHP officers, Upland California Police Department (UPD) officers, and a helicopter responded. McMurtry's wife told police that he was suffering from PTSD and had called her to say "goodbye".^[1]

About 35 minutes later, other motorists called to report a man walking or running in front of cars on the freeway. McMurtry had sliced his throat, stabbed himself, and was trying to get hit by vehicles.^[1]

Farner located McMurtry and asked him to drop the knife. McMurtry walked towards Farner, who retreated. McMurtry sprinted towards Farner, who fired, striking McMurtry. ^[1]

Farmer and other officers rendered aid until paramedics arrived. McMurtry died at the hospital.^[1]

Part of the incident was captured on a UPD officer's body-worn camera (without audio) and on motorists' cell phone cameras.^[1]

Response Timeline

The San Bernardino County California Sheriff's Department opened an investigation.^[1]

On April 20, 2023, the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office concluded that Farner was "under threat of imminent deadly harm or bodily injury" and the use of lethal force was reasonable and justifiable.^[1] ‎