Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

To the Family of Officer Russell:

I am so sorry for your loss! What a senseless act! I am so thankful for people like Officer Russell who put their lives on the line everyday to protect us all. I certainly hope that the cowards who did this will feel the full wrath of the justice system! It will not bring him back but may give you all a small measure of peace.

My prayers and thoughts will be with you. This is not an easy time but many across this nation are praying for you. Please let that also bring you a small measure of peace.


Kris Patrick
sister-in-law to Officer Michael Dunman EOW 7-17-00
left wife and three small children

To the family, friends and fellow officers of Ofc. Russell, you are in our prayers.

When God Made Peace Officers

When the Lord was creating peace officers, He was into his sixth day of overtime. An angel appeared and said,"You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."
And the Lord said,"Have you ever read the specs on this order? A peace officer has to be able to run five miles through alleys in the dark, scale walls, and enter homes the health inspector wouldn't touch and not wrinkle his uniform. He has to be able to sit in an undercover car all day on a stake out, cover a homicide scene that night, canvass the neighborhood for witnesses and testify in court the next day. He has to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half-eaten meals. And has to have six pairs of hands."
The angel shook her head slowly and said,"Six pairs of hands, no way."
"It's not the hands that are causing me all the problems," said the Lord,"it's the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have."
"Thats the standard model?" asked the angel.
The lord nodded. "One pair that sees through a bulge on a pocket before he asks,'May I see what's in there, sir?' (when he already knows and wishes he had taken that accounting job.) Another pair here in the side of his head for his partner's safety. And another pair of eyes here in the front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say,'you'll be alright ma'am,' when he knows it isn't so."
"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve,"rest and work on this tomorrow."
"I can't," responded the Lord,"I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound drunk into a patrol car without incident and feed a family of five on a civil service paycheck."
The angel circled the model of the peace officer very slowly. "Can it think," she inquired.
"You bet," declared the Lord with pride. "It can tell you the elements of a hundred crimes; recite Miranda warnings in its sleep; detain, investigate, search and arrest a gang member in the street in less time than it takes five learned judges to debate the legality of the stop, and still keeps a sense of humor. This officer also has phenomenal personality control. He can deal with crime scenes painted in hell, coax a confession from a child abuser, comfort a murder victim's family and then read in the daily paper how law enforcement isn't sensitive to the rights of criminal suspects."
Finally the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the peace officer,"There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model."
"Thats not a leak," said the Lord,"it's a tear."
"What's the tear for," asked the angel.
"It's for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American flag, and for justice."
"You're a genius," proclaimed the angel.
The Lord looked somber. "I didn't put it there," He said.
Anonymous

Patrolman D.R. Jones
Lexington, KY metro

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Uncle of Mississippi State Trooper
Paul Denham
E.O.W.
12-27-99

Danny Gibson

My deepest sympathy and prayers go out to the family of Officer Russell. I lost my sister last week when she was killed in the line of duty in Minneapolis.

God has a reason why he called them to His kingdom. Someday we'll be together again.

Chris Schmidt
Brother of Melissa Schmidt

My thoughts and prayers to the family of Officer Russell. Everyday of duty we pray to return home to our children and spouses. As an Officer and expectant mother those prayers grow stronger. Remember Russell family that the children must know how brave their father was to put his life on the line for them and others everyday.

officer kimberlie hayes
winters police dept

Mrs. Russell, please accept my deepest sorrow and condolances for the loss of your husband in the line of duty. I pray that God will richly bless you and your children in the coming months and years ahead and that His peace will be with you and your family always. God bless you!

Joseph M. Smith
American Citizen

To the Wife and Family of Officer Chris Russell,

May God give you and your Family the stength and courage your Husband had as he patrolled the streets. The world has lost another Hero, and brother officer. You and your family will be in our prayers.

PFC V. Sissell and Family
Horry County Police Department, SC

Rest in peace Officer Russell. You, your family, and your agency, will be in my family's prayers. You will never be forgotten, you are a true American hero.

Officer Don Hurley
Eloy Az. Police Department

The Policeman stood and faced his God, which must always come to pass. He hoped his shoes were shining just as brightly as his brass. "Step forward now, policman. How shall I deal with you? Have you always turned to other cheek? To my church have you been true?" The policeman squared his shoulders and said, "No, Lord, I guess I ain't. Because those of us who carry badges can't always be a saint. I've had to work most Sundays, and at times my talk was rough, and sometimes I've been violent, because the streets are tough. But I never took a penny, that wasn't min to keep...Though I worked alot of overtime when the bills got just too steep. And I never passed a cry for help; though at times I shook with with fear. And sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears. I know I don't deserve a place amoung the people here. They never wanted me around except to calm their fear. If you've a place for me here, Lord. It needn't be so grand. I never expected or had too much, But if you don't...I'll understand. There was silence around the throne where the saints had often trod. As the policeman waited quietly, for the judgment of his God. "Step forward now, policeman, you've borne your burdens well. Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets, you've done your time in Hell"
Anonymous author
This poem is fitting for Chris who is surely in Heaven, god bless his family for their loss.
LIZ Albers

Elizabeth Albers
former Virginia Beach Police Officer

As a police officer and father of 3 boys, I cannot grasp the magnitude of the loss sustained by the murder of Ofc. Russell. His loss has left a hole in the lives of not just his current family, but that of his unborn child. My heart, my prayers, my deepest sympathy goes out to the family of Ofc. Russell. May the hero rest in peace.

Officer 1st Class Paul Hoke
Baltimore County Police

To The Family of Officer Russell,

I am so sorry to hear of the untimely death of your loved one. Please know your family is in our prayers and may you find comfort in knowing so many people are praying for you daily.

In His Memory,

Deborah Dees, Surviving Spouse
Motorcycle Officer Keith A. Dees
E. O. W. 3-7-02
Houston Police Department

Our thoughts and prayer go out to the family and friends of Officer Russell. May you rest in peace brother.

Officer William J. Fritts
Columbus Police Department

Another great hero taken from us by some coward.
God bless Chris His Wife and Children.

Detective JC Johnson
Danville PD Va.

I hope the cowards who have to rob and kill are found and punished,severely. I am too sad for words, Lord help his wife and family, may he rest in peace.

It is with great sadness that I read about another fallen officer in this great country of ours. My condolences go out to his young family and coworkers. We never know that going into work may be our last day on this earth. Chris you are remembered with all your brothers and sisters who carry a badge and do whats right to protect and serve, so people can live in their somewhat peaceful communities. So my friend continue to hold your head up proud for the well job you did. Rest in Peace. OPP Cst C.Murray

Senior Cst Chris Murray
Ontario Provincial Police

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and fellow officers. Tomorrow, on 8/06/2002, I will be laying to rest a fellow officer and close friend Melissa Schmidt who was killed on 08/01/2002. You are not alone be strong and God bless.

Officer Scott Downing
Minneapolis Police Dept

R.I.P Ofc. Russell, may the ones who have done this to you pay for it, for eternity. To the Russel family and friends, I feel your pain in this time of mourning. rest assured the culprits will be sought out and given their judgement. until that time my heart is with you and the rest of the N.O.P.D.

Constable J. Rivera
Toronto Police Service

Rest in Peace Blue Angel. God bless those left behind.

S. Yates

To our brother in blue may you rest in peace. The Georiga Perimeter College Police Department has your family, friends and co-workers in our prayers.

God bless

Officer D. Johns
Georgia Perimeter College Police Department

Officer Russell, you are a true hero. You will truely be missed by your family, co-workers, friends, and other brothers and sisters across the country. To Officer Russell's wife, please remember the good things about him, it will help immensly, and may god be with you through these hard times. Farewell, Officer Russell, a father, a friend, but most of all, a true hero.

Reserve Deputy Travis Bell
Lucas County S O Iowa

Officer Down

Officer down and all is silent.
Another life taken by someone violent.
Another day comes and another day goes.
When will it stop? Nobody knows.
God help us!!!

My prayers are with the young wife and babies. May the Lord strengthen you through this time of trouble.

Corporal Lisa S Satcher
Gainesville Police Florida

On behalf of the Color Guard, We will be there.

patralman
shelby county sheriff office

THANK YOU FOR TIME AS AN OFFICER! MAY GOD BE WITH YOUR WIFE
AND CHILDREN! HOW SAD IT IS THAT THESE BABIES WILL NEVER KNOW THEIR FATHER! I KNOW THEY WILL BE TOLD OF WHAT A GREAT HERO HE WAS! MAY GOD WATCH OVER YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND YOUR DEPT. REST IN PEACE!!

911 dispatcher
TN

My deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Officer Russell. I cannot imagine the pain his wife must feel with his loss. Know that your family in blue will watch over you and your beautiful children. You all will be in my prayers. The thin blue line is a little thinner with the loss of Officer Russell and we all are grateful for his service to the good fight. The cowards who took his life will be brought to justice.

Officer Donna C. Hillier
Purdue University Calumet Police Department - Hammond, IN

I will say many prayers for Officer Russell's wife and children. To Mrs. Russell, he may be gone, but never forgotten!

Telecommunicator Sharon E. Kirkpatrick
Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department