Roll of Honor
Alexander Gaines Russell
Incident
Chief of Police Alexander Russell was struck and killed by a vehicle that was being pursued by deputies from the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
He had stepped into the roadway in an attempt to flag down the vehicle when he was struck.
Chief Russell had served in law enforcement for 40 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and seven children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-EDDFB52B- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
40 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Police Russell gave the South Pittsburg Police Department 40 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the South Pittsburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Russell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Alexander Gaines Russell is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Alexander Gaines Russell's cause is highlighted.
How Alexander Gaines Russell Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Alexander Gaines Russell is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Alexander Gaines Russell was killed by automobile.