Russell Lee Kuster
Agency patch
Detective

Russell Lee Kuster

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA
Felonious
End of Watch October 9, 1990
Age 50
Tour of Duty 24 yrs 6 mo
Badge 12884
The Vigil Panel 136 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Russell Kuster was shot and killed when he attempted to stop a man who was waving a handgun in a restaurant. The suspect had gotten into an argument with the owner and left. The man re-entered the bar with a 9 mm handgun and started waving it in the air. Detective Kuster, who was off duty and in the restaurant, was identified as a police officer by one of the restaurant employees. As Detective Kuster tried to talk the man into putting the gun down, the man opened fire, striking him in the chest and knees. Despite being mortally wounded, Detective Kuster was able to return fire and killed the suspect. Detective Kuster had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 24.5 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, parents, and two brothers.

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

24 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Kuster gave the Los Angeles Police Department 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Kuster.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA
Platform Identity lapd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 9, 1990
Tour of Duty 24 yrs 6 mo
Age 50
Badge Number 12884
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 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 1990, 88 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 71st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Russell was 50. 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. Russell had served 24.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Russell Lee Kuster

Los Angeles Police Department · End of Watch October 9, 1990

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 35-E

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