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Charles J. Russell
Agency patch
Officer

Charles J. Russell

Indianapolis Police Department — Indianapolis, IN
Felonious
United States flag Indiana flag
End of Watch September 30, 1906
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 21 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 58

Incident

Officer Charles Russell and Officer Edward Petticord were shot near 24th Street and Indianapolis Avenue after the officers stopped two men for questioning. Both officers were rushed to a local hospital, where Officer Russell died a short time later, and Officer Petticord succumbed to his wounds two days later. One of the suspects was apprehended the next day, subsequently convicted of murder, and sentenced to death. On February 8, 1907, he was the last person to be executed by hanging in the state before the method was replaced by electrocution. The second suspect was shot and killed on August 25, 1908, during a shootout with the sheriff and deputies of the Monroe County Sheriff's Department in Kentucky. Officer Russell had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

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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 Russell gave the Indianapolis Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Russell.

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

Agency

Department Indianapolis Police Department
Type Other
Location Indianapolis, Marion County, IN
Platform Identity ipd.marion.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 30, 1906
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Charles is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1906, 89 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 69th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Indianapolis Police Department has 59 officers remembered here, Charles among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Charles J. Russell

Indianapolis Police Department · End of Watch September 30, 1906

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 37-W

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