Roll of Honor
Incident
Reserve Officer Russell Simpson drowned while attempting to rescue a teenage boy who had been swept into the ocean while walking his dog along the beach.
He had responded to the scene and was part of a rope-chain of people attempting to reach the boy. Reserve Officer Simpson was also pulled under by the strong current and swept into the ocean. The boy was rescued a short time later by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Reserve Officer Simpson had served with the Bandon Police Department as a code enforcement officer and a reserve officer for four years. He was a retired firefighter from the Los Angeles County, California, Fire Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, mother, and brother, who is also an officer with the Bandon Police Department.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OR-DD10280D- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Russell. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Reserve Officer Simpson gave the Bandon Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bandon community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Reserve Officer Simpson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Reserve Officer Russell Hayden Simpson is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In OR, 66 of 197 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.5% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Russell Hayden Simpson's cause is highlighted.
How Russell Hayden Simpson Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Russell Hayden Simpson is highlighted in Dec.