Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

Ray William Russell

Addison County Sheriff's Department — Middlebury, VT

Accident

End of Watch July 3, 1941

Age 43

The Vigil Panel 78 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Ray Russell was killed when he was run over by a truck on Maple Street, just south of Vergennes, during a milk strike. Deputy Russell was riding on the milk truck, which was bound for New York, when a group of strikers stopped it and attempted to dump the truck's load. While attempting to fight off the strikers Deputy Russell fell from the truck and was run over. Four strikers were arrested and charged with manslaughter in connection with his death.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VT-99B24E2B
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.
Deputy Sheriff Russell served with the Addison County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Middlebury community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Russell.

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

Agency

Department Addison County Sheriff's Department

Location Middlebury, VT

Platform Identity acso.addison.vt.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 3, 1941

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Weapon Not available

Offender Charged with manslaughter

Deputy Sheriff Ray William Russell 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 VT, 12 of 31 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 38.7% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

At Addison County Sheriff's Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Addison County Sheriff's Department

of 2 officers

50% Accident

VT — Statewide

of 31 officers

38.7% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ray William Russell's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Ray William Russell Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

Offender Outcome

Charged with manslaughter

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Ray William Russell is highlighted in Jul.

Jan

820

Feb

730

Mar

748

Apr

707

May

847

Jun

795

Jul

897

Aug

937

Sep

913

Oct

925

Nov

872

Dec

897

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Addison County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.