Ryan Russell

Royal Canadian Mounted Police — ON

Felonious

End of Watch January 12, 2011

The Vigil Panel 217 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 332

Incident

On January 12, 2011 at approximately 6:10 a.m., an 11-year veteran of the Toronto Police Service, Sgt. Ryan Russell, was struck and killed by a stolen truck with a snow-plow attached to it during a chase in the Avenue Road and Davenport Road area. He suffered severe head injuries and was taken to the downtown hospital, where he succumbed to those injuries. The truck driver was driving erratically through the streets of Toronto, hitting a number of objects and putting the citizens of Toronto at risk. Sgt. Russell attempted to stop the driver and was hit by the stolen truck. After striking Sgt. Russell, the alleged thief continued driving erratically through the snow-covered city pursued by a number of police units. The driver eventually hit a garbage truck where he was confronted. The driver was shot by police and eventually taken into custody. He was transported to hospital with serious injuries but is expected to recover. Sgt. Ryan Russell, 35, was married with a young child, Chief Bill Blair of the Toronto Police told reporters Wednesday. “He was out doing his job in the early-morning hours, in the city, [in] a very dangerous situation, and… put his life on the line, and tragically has lost his life doing his job,” Blair said outside St. Michael’s Hospital. As we start 2026, we can look back and note that we have been very fortunate to not have lost anyone in Canada to a Line of Duty Death (LODD) these last two years. Since the launch of the Memorial Rib… Photo: Memorial Ribbon Society Directors Shawn Coady & James Pearson with Tumbleweed Spirits Co-Owner Mike Patterson Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Ribbon Society Directors Shawn Coady and …

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Added to badge.nw: April 8, 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.
Officer Russell served with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Russell.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Location ON

Platform Identity rcmp.fed.ca.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 12, 2011

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Ryan 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 ON, 75 of 334 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 22.5% of this state's fallen. That is 31.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 75 of 333 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 22.5% of this agency's fallen.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

of 333 officers

22.5% Felonious

ON — Statewide

of 334 officers

22.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious