Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Russell Sage was shot and killed and a deputy was seriously wounded by a demented prisoner as they entered his cell in the old Yellowstone County Jail at the corner of North 27th Street and 4th Avenue North. The prisoner had a pistol that officers failed to find when they incarcerated him the night before on a disturbance charge. The man escaped but was recaptured minutes later and charged with murder. The man was found not guilty by reason of insanity on November 22nd, 1926. He died at the state mental hospital in Warm Springs on July 7th, 1942. Sheriff Sage had served as sheriff for five years and had previously served as a police officer for the Billings Police Department for four years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MT-5E385EC8- Stewardship
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- 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.
Sheriff Sage gave the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Billings community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Sage.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Russell J. Sage 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 MT, 93 of 142 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.5% of this state's fallen. That is 11.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Russell J. Sage's cause is highlighted.
How Russell J. Sage Compares
Offender Outcome
Found not guilty by reason of insanity
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Russell J. Sage is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Russell J. Sage was killed by handgun; pistol.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
