Roll of Honor
Roscoe Franklin Russell
Incident
Lieutenant Roscoe Russell was killed in a vehicle crash while he and his partner pursued a vehicle at a high rate of speed at 2:30 a.m.
Their patrol car struck the stone cemetery entrance to Happy Valley Memorial Park at 2708 Elizabethton Highway in Johnson City at an estimated 100 mph. An officer riding with Lieutenant Russell was severely injured.
The subject they were pursuing was arrested and charged with reckless driving and speeding. He was fined $50, and his license was suspended for five months and 29 days.
Lieutenant Russell was a United States Army WWII veteran and served with the Elizabethton Police Department for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, mother, three sisters, and four brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-BFFBC1BB- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Roscoe. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Lieutenant Russell gave the Elizabethton Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Elizabethton community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Roscoe Franklin Russell served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Lieutenant Roscoe Franklin Russell is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TN, 191 of 769 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Roscoe Franklin Russell's cause is highlighted.
How Roscoe Franklin Russell Compares
Offender Outcome
Fined $50
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Roscoe Franklin Russell is highlighted in May.