Holly MatkinConcord Township, OH – Painesville Police Department (PPD) Sergeant Russell Tuttle died on Dec. 7 after battling a brief illness, according to his department.
Sgt. Tuttle, 44, passed away unexpectedly at Tri Point Medical Center, according to his obituary.
The PPD announced the veteran officer’s sudden death in a Facebook post later that day.
There are really no words to describe this type of loss,” PPD said. “When you lose a great person and friend like Russ, there becomes a great void in our lives. This is one void that will last a lifetime.”
Sgt. Tuttle graduated from Lakeland Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice before he joined the PPD in November of 1999, according to his obituary.
He spent the next 21 years serving as an evidence technician, community service officer, evidence room custodian, and field training officer.
He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in May of 2019.
“[Sgt. Tuttle] was well known throughout the department as someone who went out of his way to help and teach others,” the PPD noted.
One of his longtime colleagues told WOIO that Sgt. Tuttle was “one of the finest street cops that ever walked.”
“He was a street cop, beat trash straight through,” the fellow officer said. “He was something special. We’re all going to miss him.”
Sgt. Tuttle leaves behind his wife, Donielle, and his sons, Caden, Ethan, and Austin, according to his obituary.
He is also survived by his parents, sister, nephew, and his in-laws.
Sgt. Tuttle was laid to rest on Friday.
End of Watch: A funeral was held today for Sgt. Russ Tuttle of the Painesville Police Department. He died unexpectedly Monday of a sudden illness. pic.twitter.com/aKZnBKMNP6
— Jim Nelson (@JimNelsonTV) December 11, 2020
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Painesville Police Department Sergeant Russell Tuttle, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
Sandy Malone
