Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Russell Freeman died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 during an outbreak amongst employees and inmates at the Gloria McDonald Women’s Facility.
Lieutenant Freeman had served with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections for 29 years.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Lieutenant Russell K. Freeman died on December 14, 2020 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 52.
He is one of 884 officers honored here, and one of 2 at Rhode Island Department of Corrections.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RI-1BF0BBFD- 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
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Lieutenant Freeman gave the Rhode Island Department of Corrections 29 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Rhode Island. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Freeman.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Russell K. Freeman is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In RI, 3 of 55 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 5.5% of this state's fallen. That is 3.6 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.
At Rhode Island Department of Corrections, 2 of 5 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 40% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Russell K. Freeman's cause is highlighted.
How Russell K. Freeman Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Russell K. Freeman is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Rhode Island Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
