Roll of Honor
Russell Lee Peterson, Jr.
Incident
Police Officer Russell Peterson was killed while participating in a training exercise for the police department's Search and Rescue Team on Echo Face near the Cathedral Rock area of Mount Charleston. He and another team member of the 6-person team were climbing a frozen water wall that was approximately 160 feet high. The other climber went up first, and as he prepared to change off the safety system, the ice above him began to break off. Officer Peterson, who was still on the ground, held onto the rope so that his partner could remain against the wall and avoid being hit by the large pieces of ice. One of the chunks of ice struck Officer Peterson on the head, breaking his neck. Once the landslide stopped, his partner climbed down and determined Officer Peterson had suffered fatal injuries. He snowshoed to a nearby camp, where he was able to call for help. Officer Peterson's body was located under the landslide debris, still holding onto the rope which was able to hold his partner against the rock wall, saving his life. Officer Peterson had served with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for eight years. He had turned 40 the day before his death.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NV-15DD40E6- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer II Peterson gave the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Las Vegas community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer II Peterson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer II Russell Lee Peterson, Jr. 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 NV, 40 of 145 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27.6% of this state's fallen. That is 3.4 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, 8 of 24 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Russell Lee Peterson, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Russell Lee Peterson, Jr. Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Russell Lee Peterson, Jr. is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
23 officers from Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
