Ontario Police Department, California
End of Watch Friday, February 21, 1958
Add to My HeroesRussell G. Grower
Detective Russell Grower was shot and killed as he and two other detectives from separate agencies went to Soquel Canyon to investigate a gang of tire thieves.
When a suspect answered the door of his cabin he attempted to shut it on Detective Grower when he identified himself as a police officer. The suspect then shot Detective Grower in the head.
The suspect, 34, a former secret service agent with the U.S. Air Force Intelligence Service, had been released from a Arkansas mental hospital in October of 1957. He was apprehended the next day and later returned to a maximum security prison for the criminally insane.
Detective Grower was a U.S. Air Force World War II veteran who was shot down over Germany and held prisoner for 13 months. He was survived by his wife and three children.
Bio
- Age 34
- Tour 6 years
- Badge Not available
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
- Offender Committed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 22 ReflectionsI was married to Clancy (Robin Russell) Grower, your son. I heard stories of you. We looked for a deer head you had given to a Pomona sports store.
Christa (Grower) Biddle
Daughter in law years ago
October 22, 2022
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