Russell Travis "Rusty" Stalnaker

Atlanta Police Department — Atlanta, GA

Felonious

End of Watch March 31, 1999

Age 24

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 146 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 87

Incident

Police Officer Rusty Stalnaker was shot and killed while struggling with a suspect on Peachtree Street, near Pine Street.

Officers had stopped the suspect after observing him pushing a truck down a street. While talking with him, a struggle ensued and officers wrestled him to the ground and attempted to handcuff him. During the struggle, the suspect pulled out a handgun and shot Officer Stalnaker.

The suspect was shot and wounded by other officers, but was able to flee in a nearby patrol car and crashed approximately a block away. He attempted to steal another vehicle from a woman in front of a church, but the woman thwarted his efforts by screaming. The suspect then ran into the church and was subdued by the pastor who was giving an evening service. On May 2nd, 2001, the suspect plead guilty and was sentenced to life without parole.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-FFDD5F76
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Stalnaker gave the Atlanta Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Atlanta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Stalnaker.

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

Agency

Department Atlanta Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Atlanta, Fulton County, GA

Platform Identity apd.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 31, 1999

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 24

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Police Officer Russell Travis "Rusty" Stalnaker is one of 17,558 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,585 officers honored here.

In GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.8 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

At Atlanta Police Department, 58 of 88 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.9% of this agency's fallen.

Atlanta Police Department

of 88 officers

65.9% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,558

of 32,585 officers

53.9% Felonious