Russell W. Ponton
Agency patch
Officer

Russell W. Ponton

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC
Accident
End of Watch May 2, 1967
Age 29
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Badge 2236
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Russell Ponton was killed in a motorcycle crash while responding to another call involving a police shooting. While en route, an oil truck turned in front of him, causing a collision at the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Randle Circle, SE. Officer Ponton had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Ponton gave the Metropolitan Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Ponton.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity mpdc.dc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 2, 1967
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 29
Badge Number 2236
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Russell is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1967, 73 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 38th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Russell was 29. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Russell had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Russell among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Russell W. Ponton

Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch May 2, 1967

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 38-E

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