Richard ‘Dick’ Jackson Russell III, 68, Cicero, died Jan. 18 at home. He was born Dec. 6, 1948 to Richard Jackson and Virginia Lee (Pass) Russell, Jr. in Pennington Gap, Va. His father preceded him in death.
Dick was a 1967 graduate of Hamilton Heights High School, a member of First United Methodist Church in Noblesville, and Noblesville F. & A.M Masonic Lodge. He pursued and achieved a successful career in law enforcement, starting with an associate’s degree in 1969 from Lee College in Jackson, Ky. He then went on to graduate from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, 32nd Section (1975) in Plainfield, Ind., FBI National Academy, 132nd Session (1983) and FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Academy (1996) both in Quantico, Va. He also attended and graduated from the Indiana National Guard, 138th Field Artillery, from 1970 to 1977 in Noblesville.
Dick spent his career in law enforcement, beginning as a patrolman for the Cicero Police Dept. from 1972 to 1974, and then transferring to the Carmel Police Dept., where he was a patrolman from 1974 to 1975. After that he was a major with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Dept. from 1975 to 1996 and retired as Chief of Police for the Noblesville Police Dept. where he was from 1996 to 2009.
Dick held many awards and memberships throughout his life, including an IHSAA Official, having officiated three Hall of Fame Classics and three State Finals (basketball and baseball), president of the Fraternal Order of Police, as well as the FBI National Academy, Indiana Association, appointed member of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Board of Directors by Governors O’Bannon and Kieran, appointed member of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Board of Directors by Governor Mitch Daniels, Indiana Chief’s Association, Police Officer of the Year in 1984 from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Dept. and also in 1975 from the Carmel Optimist Club, commendations from the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshal Service, and U.S. Army Citation for Leadership from Fort Campbell, Ky.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife of 49 years, Katie Ann (Cecil) Russell, children Rick (Teri) Russell, Elizabeth (Kevin) Wright and Jonn (Jamie) Russell, grandchildren Jack, Madalynne, Trinity, William and JaLynn and brothers Paul (Peggy) Russell and Mitch (Melanie) Russell.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 23 at Noblesville First United Methodist Church, 2051 Monument St., Noblesville, with Pastor Dick Judson officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Jan. 22 at Randall & Roberts Funeral Home, 1150 Logan St., Noblesville, with an additional hour of visitation at the church from 10 to 11 a.m., prior to the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association, Indiana Office, 8604 Allisonville Rd., Suite 140, Indianapolis, IN 46250.
Condolences: www.randallroberts.com
