Schaumburg Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Saturday, November 1, 2008
Age: 47
Tour of Duty: 19 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Date of Incident: November 1, 2008
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: Charged
Police Officer Frank Russo suffered a fatal heart attack while struggling with a suspect following a brief foot pursuit.
Officer Russo and another officer, while working an off-duty assignment, were attempting to arrest a man who was causing a disturbance at a local club. The suspect and a friend fled the scene and were being pursued by the officers for approximately one block.
As they began to struggle with the man, Officer Russo collapsed and his partner immediately called for assistance. Officer Russo was transported to Alexian Brothers Hospital in Elk Grove Village where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The suspect was charged with two counts of felony aggravated battery to a police officer, four counts of misdemeanor resisting a police officer and one count of misdemeanor battery.
Officer Russo had served with the Schaumburg Police Department for 19 years. He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, sister and parents.