Russell Blanchard
Agency patch
Detective

Russell Blanchard

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
End of Watch March 15, 1952
Age 49
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
The Vigil Panel 88 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Russell Blanchard was shot and killed while responding to a robbery call at a local store at 17906 John R Street. Three suspects had forced the store employees into the manager's office. As Detective Blanchard and his partner entered the store one of the suspects opened fire, striking Detective Blanchard. As the three suspects fled, the one who shot Detective Blanchard was subdued by another officer arriving on the scene with a flying tackle. The suspect died later at the hospital from injuries he sustained while being subdued. Detective Blanchard was transported to Highland Park General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Detective Blanchard had served with the Detroit Police Department for 22 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, four brothers, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

22 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Blanchard gave the Detroit Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Blanchard.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Detroit, Wayne County, MI
Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 15, 1952
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
Age 49
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Russell 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 1952, 71 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 100th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Russell was 49. 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 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.5% 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Russell Blanchard

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch March 15, 1952

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 62-E

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