Sergeant Lee Russell Refuge is a new Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency refuge comprised of 570 acres in Carroll County.
A dedication event for the new refuge is at Carroll County Shooting Sports Complex, Friday, July 14, 2022, 10 a.m. The Shooting Park is located at 680 McAdoo Cemetery Lane, Huntingdon, Tenn. 38344.
The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to name the area after the late Sgt. Lee Russell. Sgt. Russell served in the aviation division of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, where he assisted with search and rescue, warrant execution, air cover, and more.
Sgt. Russell tragically died in a helicopter crash while on duty in August 2022. This event is open for the public to attend.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) mourned the death of sergeant and helicopter pilot Lee Russell, who served our state for nearly 12 years while living out his dream career that combined his love for law enforcement and aviation.
Sergeant Russell lost his life in service to Tennesseans in a helicopter crash last year in Marion County.
“Our state has lost an exceptional public servant who came to work every day to help people,” THP Colonel Matt Perry said. “Lee’s passion for law enforcement and flying put him in a unique position to help find missing persons, criminal suspects and advance investigations across multiple counties. We will sorely miss Lee as a friend, colleague, and exceptionally dedicated member of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.”
Sergeant Russell, from McKenzie, Tennessee, began his law enforcement career in 2007 as a reserve deputy for the Henry County Sheriff’s Office while still a student at the University of Tennessee at Martin. He completed an internship with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation before receiving his bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, and becoming a full-time Henry County Sheriff’s Deputy in 2008. The following year, he took to the air in a law enforcement capacity as a part-time pilot while serving on the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force.
Sergeant Russell transitioned to the THP in 2010. After graduation from cadet school, he was assigned to Hickman County before transferring to Dickson County in March 2012. Sergeant Russell was selected as a THP pilot in May 2012 and was transferred to the Carroll County Airport so that the state would have a helicopter available in that portion of West Tennessee. He was promoted to sergeant on November 12, 2017.
During his tenure with the THP, Sergeant Russell received advanced flight training, focusing primarily on Airborne Law Enforcement techniques. He held an Airline Transport Pilot & Certified Flight Instructor Certificate and two Cessna Jet type ratings. He gave presentations and instruction on the use of aircraft to THP Strike Teams, Trooper Cadet Schools, THP supervisors, Tennessee Park Rangers, TBI agents, local law enforcement agencies, and citizen organizations.
Sergeant Russell received multiple awards and recognitions during his career, including THP Lifesaver Awards, the Governor’s Highway Safety Office Hero of the Year Award, and several letters of commendation for multiple lifesaving events and criminal apprehensions.
Sergeant Russell is survived by his wife, Mandi Essary Russell, and two children ages 1 and 5, son, Connor, daughter, Tenley; parents, Steve, a retired lieutenant with the THP, and Cherry Russell, brother, Dr. Travis Russell (Dr. Bethany Russell), paternal grandmother, Suzanne Russell, father and mother-in-law, Ray and Trish Essary, sisters-in-law, Abby Mayo (Matt) and Misty Wyatt (Robert), nieces, Demi, Piper, and Leah, and two nephews, Aiden and Easton.
Sgt. Russell is preceded in death by his grandparents, his namesake, Dr. Harold and Fay Russell, and Finis and Frances Murray.
Mc Kenzie, TN
