March 14--Friends say he's the same on duty and off -- the caring, compassionate trooper who treats every driver like a friend.
As Tennessee Highway Patrol Sgt. Lowell Russell recovers from the wreck that nearly killed him Tuesday, those who know him say he won't leave their thoughts.
"He's the kind of guy who can write you a ticket and you'll end up thanking him for it," said Grainger County Sheriff Scott Layel, a friend and former trooper. "Words just can't describe how good a guy he is."
Russell dedicated the past 14 years to the THP, seven of them to patrol in his home territory of Monroe County. He worked wrecks, wrote tickets, counseled young officers and shared the grief of victims' families.
Russell struggled with grief of his own last year when Frankie Watson, the family friend he'd raised like a son, died while serving in Afghanistan.
"Lowell's the type of person who never meets a stranger," said Chase Nipper, a Monroe County deputy who trained under Russell as an Explorer Scout. "The uniform didn't change him. He taught me to treat everybody with respect, the same way you'd treat your family. He knew the person you write a ticket today could end up saving your life tomorrow."
Russell graduated from Vonore High School and got his start in law enforcement as a Monroe County deputy under then-sheriff Doug Watson.
"He was a young man just starting his career, but he was one of those officers who always knew how to treat people," said Watson, now fire chief for Sweetwater, Tenn. "He got along with people all over the county."
Russell graduated from the THP academy in August 1998 and worked briefly as a trooper in Monroe County before being transferred to Marshall County in West Tennessee. He returned to his home county in June 2000, where he patrolled the highways for the next seven years.
Tommy Millsaps, editor of the Monroe County Advocate and Democrat, learned to listen for Russell's badge number on the police scanner.
"He's probably the most professional law-enforcement officer I've ever known," Millsaps said. "We always knew if we heard number 1162 called out, he was there and people would be treated right."
Fellow officers remember Russell for always taking the extra step to help others, checking up on victims' families and staying in touch long after cases wrapped up.
"Most police officers will go out of their way to help people, but he's at least a grade above that," said Mike Jenkins, Sweetwater assistant police chief. "It's easy to harden yourself to what you see to keep it from bothering you. Lowell never displayed that."
The THP promoted Russell to sergeant in March 2007, and he transferred to Nashville as a supervisor in the Office of Professional Responsibility, handling internal affairs cases. He came home to East Tennessee again in January 2011 to serve as a road sergeant for the Knoxville district.
That same year brought the death of Watson, who Russell had raised from the age of 12, while serving as Marine in Afghanistan. The community Russell had served so long lined the highway by the thousands for the return of Watson's body.
Friends and strangers showed up at the University of Tennessee Medical Center throughout the day Tuesday to show their support, THP Sgt. Randall Martin said. Russell's brother Cory, also a THP trooper, stood by.
"Every chance he gets, he's by his brother's side," Martin said. "Even the people who are here being seen for other things have come by to say they're praying for him. I think that shows how much support he has in this community."
Copyright 2012 - The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn.
