Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Deputy Lee Russ was an amazing man. Kind heart and good soul, he was always willing to help anyone in need. He was a great friend to all. Rest in peace my friend, you are not forgotten

Ret. Corporal Paul Torres
Texas Department of Public Safety

October 29, 2023

Officer Russ was a very kind man. He gave his life trying to save someone else, and that’s just the kind of person he was. He made our community a better place to live. He will always be remembered and missed.

Sherry Hunter

October 29, 2022

Deputy Russ

Today marks 21 years since your tragic and heartbreaking murder. You were a great example of what an officer in and out of uniform should be. Honest, community oriented, hard working and most importantly kind hearted and fearless. Rest assured that you will never be forgotten. Rest in peace my friend.

Ret. Corporal Paul Torres
Texas Department of Public Safety

October 29, 2021

Rest in peace Deputy Sheriff Russ.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 27, 2020

RIP Deputy Russ. You stood your ground

Deputy Constable Anonymous Anonymous
31 years of service

April 13, 2018

Lee Russ was a legend of a man, I knew him since I was around 5 years old, Lee and my Mother worked together as an outsource to the City of El Paso. I remember Lee's presence as a great man and a man well liked and respected by others. Lee and I went in different directions and he was close friends with one of my partners in El Paso Police and I always had an idea where Lee was. Years later we crossed paths as he was working as a Deputy for Ward County and I was an EMT working in Ward County, we came across each other on an accident outside of the City shortly after I began my job. Lee was always kind, giving and always helping others and we would meet on numerous occasions at events in the City and in the County on incident scenes. I had already moved on to working for a Police agency in Dallas when I heard of Lee's passing-it was a great loss to the community and law enforcement but he died doing what he loved-protecting the flock from a Wolf and he found bravely until his passing from injuries incurred protecting a domestic violence victim. I was blessed to be contacted some years later by his daughter and we were able to share special stories and moments about how great Lee was. We are still close to this day! We all miss you Lee! Rest in Peace Great Warrior and God's Peacemaker!

Patrol Officer Paul Boothe
Prosper, Texas

May 5, 2017

Miss you so much.

To everyone that has left a reflection, memory, or just kind words... you can never know how much your post means to everyone else that knew and loved Lee. Please keep them coming!

A friend

January 13, 2017

I was hired fresh out of college back in my home town as a adult county probation officer in 1996. Part of my job duties were to make late night visits and conduct bar checks in search of probationers. With no backup and the department not being allowed to carry, I was off to do my first bar check alone. I checked out with the Sheriff's office at my location. A few minutes later with me trying to get my nerve up and still siting in my vehicle, up pulls an SO car and it's Lee Russ, who offers to assist me in a walk through one of the roughest bars in town. He later said for me to call on him anytime I needed assistance. Through him and this experience I learned the courage, duty and obligation my job entails. Thanks for being an example to me. I eventually moved on to work in my current capacity as a federal officer and his example still permeates through me and the work I do.

Senior United States Probation Officer A
U.S. Probation

November 2, 2016

Happy heavenly birthday and happy Fathers Day. The kids miss you every day, and these special days without you are especially hard. Give them a loving nudge once in a while.

Peggy

June 20, 2016

I think of you so often, Lee.

Mary Byrne
Retired Ward County SO

May 30, 2016

I just graduated college last week. I wish you could have been there physically, but I know you are always with me in spirit. Everybody keeps telling me how proud you would be of me, and I hope that I will one day make you even prouder. I miss you every day, every hour, every minute.

Ben
Son

December 27, 2014

I remember working with Lee. He always was willing to help and assist you. He was a fun man to work with. He is missed. Back then we would drop each other off from work and pick each other up. He would get settled in and then find his inhaler take a puff then we where ready to go!!!

Retied Kerrville Police.
CO- worker partner

October 3, 2014

Hey brother! Love and still miss you!! Think of you all the time!! every time an officer loses his life, it's like Oct. 29,2000 all over again. I know you are resting in peace..I love you Lee Russ!!

Connie Buchanan
sister

July 12, 2014

Thank you so much for your courage and sacrifice. thank you to your family, who went through just as much sacrifice, if not more. Everything you did will be remembered and will always be appreciated.

Cassandra Walls, MHHS Senior student

May 21, 2014

Just thinking about you old friend. We miss you Lee rest in peace brother.

Clint McMullen
Friend

October 29, 2013

Deputy Lee......you were a part of my family's life for a brief period of time. But you played a big roll in our lives. You helped me out, by allowing me to iron your uniforms and you "paid" me. The money was so needed. And I know I probably didn't do a very good job of ironing, that was never my strong suit...lol........After moving to Oklahoma from Monahans (1983), I became a dispatcher for a sheriff's department, later I married a police officer, who became the chief of his department. 2013 I am still working for a police department, but after having a heart attack in dispatch, changed to the police records office. Two of my children (girls) have followed suit and became dispatchers, one has since become a deputy and the other is a dispatcher/reserve deputy, at the same department I first got hired. My sister and brother-in-law both became police officers. You see the influence you played on peoples lives and you made a difference. Because that is who you Deputy Lee was. You meant a lot to my family. Thank you for your service.

Phyllis Canoe
Ardmore Police Department

July 26, 2013

I had the honor and pleasure of working with Lee as a Paramedic in Ward County. Lee would regularly stop by the station and we would spend a lot of time swapping stories and telling jokes. We would even concoct new pranks to play on one another and the Monahans Police Officers. He was a character and I miss the late night visits. He was a very special guy and I miss him. I moved on to Fort Worth EMS just a few short months before Lee passed and I have often regretted not being there. Rest in Peace, Brother. You are loved and missed.

Firefighter David Wilson
Mico Fire/Rescue

July 3, 2013

Happy Birthday Day my friend. We all miss you.

Clint
Dam good friend!

June 19, 2013

It sounds a bit cliche, but words truly cannot express how much I miss you. Not a day goes by that I don't think about you and how much has changed since you were taken from me. I would give anything to be able to sit down with you, just one time, and catch you up on the last 12 years; though I know that you have seen it all, I wish so badly that you could been here with us.

More than anything, I wish that you could meet Kevin. He hears so much about you, and is such a wonderful man and husband. I think you would approve.

No matter where I go and what I do, I will always be a Russ and carry the pride of that name.

Love you Dad,

Miranda

February 11, 2013

12 yrs and so much has changed, the only constant is how much you are missed. Love and miss you and your brotherly advice.

Pat Templeton-Fox
sister

October 30, 2012

Lee was a good man and LEO. It was truly a pleasure knowing and working with him during the early years of my career in Texas. RIP brother!

Chief David L. Montgomery
Firestone Police Department

October 29, 2012

Thinking of you, more than usual lately. Wish you could have been there a few weeks ago. We love and miss you!

Anon.
Anon,

April 6, 2012

Hey there big brother! Mirands got married last week. She was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen! That day was hard on us all!! Miranda honored you very lovingly and respectfully, your picture was with her at the alter and she used yellow flowers. She asked Cody to give a speech about you and the family. My boys love and miss you so much Lee. Miranda looks soo much like a Russ. Robin thinks she looks like younger pictures of Pat. I don't see it, I think she looks like you and daddy. I love you and am still wondering "WHY"...wish we could talk one more time..See ya soon! Missing you tooo much.
Love you,
'Thelma' Con (sure miss hearing that) ;0

Connie Buchanan
sister

March 17, 2012

Hey there! Am missing you ALOT today!

Love you,
your lil sis

Connie Buchanan
sister

January 6, 2012

Hi Lee,

Merry Christmas...I miss you so much, wish you were here.
My heart still hurts brother.

Love you,

Your little sister...

Connie Buchanan
sister

December 21, 2011