Detective Sergeant

William J. Russell

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch June 12, 1909
Age 34
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Badge 85
The Vigil Panel 23 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Sergeant William Russell was shot and killed, and another officer was wounded, by a man they followed into a saloon at the intersection of Fifth Avenue (modern day Wells Street) and Randolph Street who they believed was carrying concealed weapons. The suspect produced two pistols and fired on the officers as they approached him. Sergeant Russell was killed instantly. The other officer returned fire critically wounding the subject as he ran out the door. Officers working to maintain order in a nearby union hall heard the shots, rushed to the scene, and found the unconscious suspect several yards from the saloon. The suspect, who recovered from his wounds, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. He was granted a new trial and acquitted. In 1916 he was sent to Leavenworth for 40 months for robbing the Chicago federal building of $500,000 in stamps. In 1920, days after he got out, he was caught robbing a Chicago drug store.

Survivors

Sergeant Russell was survived by his wife, father, two brothers, and one sister.

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.
Detective Sergeant Russell gave the Chicago Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Russell.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 12, 1909
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 34
Badge Number 85
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William 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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1909, 99 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 52nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 34. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chicago Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Sergeant William J. Russell

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch June 12, 1909

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 25-E

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