Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Douglas Russell was struck and killed while deploying stop sticks to stop a vehicle involved in a pursuit on Highway 50.
The pursuit began after Rancho Cordova police were dispatched to conduct a welfare check on a person in a brown four-door sedan parked on Horn Road. As officers approached the driver sped off, tossing items out of his vehicle. A police pursuit ensued proceeding eastbound Highway 50.
Officer Russell was deploying the spike strips at Highway 50 and Ponderosa Road when the car intentionally swerved and hit him. He was airlifted to the University of California Davis Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.
After striking Officer Russell the vehicle continued until officers were able to spin the car and stop it on Missouri Flat Road. The driver was taken into custody and transported to Sutter Roseville Medical Center. The suspect was convicted in 2010 and sentenced to death.
Officer Russell had served with the California Highway Patrol for 22 years and was assigned to the Placerville office.
The pursuit began after Rancho Cordova police were dispatched to conduct a welfare check on a person in a brown four-door sedan parked on Horn Road. As officers approached the driver sped off, tossing items out of his vehicle. A police pursuit ensued proceeding eastbound Highway 50.
Officer Russell had served with the California Highway Patrol for 22 years and was assigned to the Placerville office.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-2E68BCFD- 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
22 years. You could have gone home.
Officer Russell gave the California Highway Patrol 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Russell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Douglas Scott 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At California Highway Patrol, 71 of 233 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Douglas Scott Russell's cause is highlighted.
How Douglas Scott Russell Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Douglas Scott Russell is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Douglas Scott Russell was killed by automobile.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
232 officers from California Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
