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Nearly a Century and a Half After Dying in the Line of Duty, Local Officer to be Remembered

City of Springfield

Exactly 142 years after his death, the Springfield Police Department will host a memorial ceremony in honor of the service and sacrifice of the late Deputy Constable Andrew J. Russell.

According to the department, information regarding Russell’s death in the line of duty was recently discovered by SPD Corporal Rob Schroeder in a newspaper article from the Springfield Weekly Patriot dated Sept. 17, 1874. Russell’s name has since been added to the Springfield Police Officers Memorial in front of Police Headquarters, which was established in 1995 to honor Springfield police officers killed in the line of duty.

Russell had been a Springfield police officer from 1868 to 1869 and was the Marshal of North Springfield in 1870. At the time of his death in 1874, he was the Deputy Constable for Campbell Township in Greene County.

The 36-year-old died on Sept. 13, 1874 when he accompanied a constable from Texas, Thomas Ragsdale, and Special Officer Charlie Means to Douglas County. According to the SPD, "the three law enforcement officers were attempting to arrest two of the Lakey brothers who were wanted for stealing horses in the state of Texas. They located the Lakey residence and saw people inside it as they approached. The Lakey brothers fled out of the back of the residence with the law officers in pursuit. As gunshots were exchanged between the law officers and the brothers, their father fired from inside the residence and struck Russell. A newspaper account of the incident reported that Russell was taken to the Sheriff’s Office in Ava, Missouri, but succumbed to his injuries on the same day.  Russell’s body was returned to Springfield and buried at a family cemetery on the following Tuesday."

Russell was survived by wife, Sarah Ann, and four children, Cornelius, Edwin, Mattie and Charley. The SPD says Russell’s burial location has been lost in the 142 years that have passed. His name is on the Missouri Law Enforcement Memorial, and the SPD has submitted his name to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C., for inclusion on the national memorial.

The memorial ceremony will start at 1 p.m. tomorrow (9/13) at Springfield Police Headquarters on the south lawn.

Michele Skalicky has worked at KSMU since the station occupied the old white house at National and Grand. She enjoys working on both the announcing side and in news and has been the recipient of statewide and national awards for news reporting. She likes to tell stories that make a difference. Michele enjoys outdoor activities, including hiking, camping and leisurely kayaking.