Russell Peterson
Las Vegas Review Journal
March 26, 1998
OFFICER’S DEATH SHOCKS FRIENDS
A Search and Rescue team member dies during a freak ice climbing accident at Mount Charleston.
A popular Las Vegas police officer died Tuesday evening when a massive chunk of ice fell on him while he and an acquaintance were ice climbing at Mount Charleston.
The death of Officer Russell Peterson, 40, is the second time in 16 months that a police Search and Rescue team member has died in a freak accident…
Police Lt. Rick Alba said Peterson and a Search and Rescue volunteer were climbing a frozen waterfall on Echo Face in the area of Cathedral Rock about 5 p.m. As the volunteer was ascending the frozen slab, an expansive piece of ice dislodged from the top of the waterfall. It narrowly missed the volunteer and landed on Peterson, who was standing at the base of the ice floe.
“That piece of ice weighed in the neighborhood of several thousand pounds”, Alba said. “It is my understanding that there was very little chance of him surviving.”
The male volunteer… then hiked for nearly two hours to report the accident to authorities at the Mount Charleston Lodge. Several Search and Rescue team members tried to retrieve their colleague’s body but were turned back by poor weather and darkness.
“Because of potential weather conditions and temperatures, it was decided it would be far too dangerous to try and go up there to recover the body at night”, Alba said. “However, two of the commissioned Search and Rescue officers did hike up to the scene and spent the night with his body, guarding over him.”
…Sgt. Will Minor said Peterson was an eight-year veteran of the Police Department who worked in patrol, field training, the Training Bureau and Gang Detail. He was assigned to Search and Rescue in 1996. At the time of his death he specialized in rock and ice climbing as well as difficult terrain rescues.
Las Vegas Review Journal
March 28, 1998
…The funeral, with full police honors, was an emotional ceremony for just about all attending. Peterson’s ashes were escorted to and from the services while bagpipes echoed across the open-ended hangar. Las Vegas Police Honor Guard members presented Peterson’s wife (Lesa) with a U.S. flag and later fired a series of three shots in remembrance of their colleague.
…The services closed with family and Search and Rescue team members escorting Peterson’s ashes to a waiting helicopter, which took off for Mount Charleston. The ashes were to be spread over a scenic area that Peterson loved. “Officer Russell Peterson P#3879, secured final in the hands of God,” a police dispatcher bellowed as the helicopter disappeared.
Plaque Location & Image
South Wall Column 14 Row I View The Plaque