William J. Russell

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Felonious

End of Watch June 12, 1909

Age 34

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

Badge 85

The Vigil Panel 23 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 570

Incident

Detective Sergeant William Russell was shot and killed, and another officer was wounded, by a man they followed into a saloon at the intersection of Fifth Avenue (modern day Wells Street) and Randolph Street who they believed was carrying concealed weapons. The suspect produced two pistols and fired on the officers as they approached him. Sergeant Russell was killed instantly. The other officer returned fire critically wounding the subject as he ran out the door. Officers working to maintain order in a nearby union hall heard the shots, rushed to the scene, and found the unconscious suspect several yards from the saloon. The suspect, who recovered from his wounds, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. He was granted a new trial and acquitted. In 1916 he was sent to Leavenworth for 40 months for robbing the Chicago federal building of $500,000 in stamps. In 1920, days after he got out, he was caught robbing a Chicago drug store.

Survivors

Sergeant Russell was survived by his wife, father, two brothers, and one sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-D705F05C
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.
Detective Sergeant Russell gave the Chicago Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Russell.

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

Agency

Department Chicago Police Department

Location Chicago, IL

Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 12, 1909

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

Age 34

Badge Number 85

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Pistol

Offender Acquitted

Detective Sergeant William J. 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Chicago Police Department, 396 of 571 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.

Chicago Police Department

396

of 571 officers

69.4% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious