Joe Farewell launched his law enforcement career in 2007 as a volunteer for the Lake Wales Police Department (Florida). He later served at the Winter Haven Police Department and quickly progressed into specialty units. During his time at the department he was assigned to patrol, Field Training, Tactical Patrol Unit, General Crimes Unit, Violent Crimes Unit, Special Investigations Unit, and took over as the lead detective for the Gang Suppression Unit. He also spent 3 years assigned to a federal violent crime and gang task force.
Farewell tried out for the department’s Emergency Response Team as soon as he was eligible, was accepted in 2014, and graduated from the Polk County SWAT School. In addition to his role on the entry team, he later took over the sniper team leader position. Farewell was also a general and firearms instructor for the department and the Emergency Response Team.