Ex-W’burg police chief dies after battle with cancer

Former Williamsburg Police Chief Russell Jones recently lost his long battle with cancer.

Former Williamsburg Police Chief Russell Jones, who spent nearly three decades serving the public by working in law enforcement, has gone on to serve a higher power.

Jones, 65, died at Baptist Health Corbin Saturday following a lengthy battle with cancer.

“He embodied the whole notion of integrity. He was a friend to everyone in town,” noted Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison. “He was a wonderful officer. When I needed a chief, he stepped up and took it on and ran a great department. More than anything else, he was a great friend and I am going to miss him as well as everybody else.”

Jones spent about six years working as a Whitley County Sheriff’s deputy before joining the Williamsburg Police Department in 1984 where he spent the next 24 years.

Jones worked for five different chiefs before assuming the top post himself in 2007. He retired on Sept. 30, 2008.

Whitley County Sheriff Colan Harrell, who had been friends with Jones for at least 40 years, said what he would remember most about Jones is that he was just a quality person.

“Russell Jones gave himself to whatever was needed. He was always that way,” Harrell said. “He was wonderful. He was always wonderful to work with. He was always accommodating.”

Harrell said that the thing Jones will probably best be remembered for is his bravery during a 1981 incident shooting rampage where Jones, who was a sheriff’s deputy at the time, drew the shooter’s fire to himself allowing others to get away.

Jones then tactically repositioned despite being critically wounded and returned fire mortally wounding the attacker.

During a 2014 ceremony, Harrell presented Jones with the Medal of Honor on behalf of the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department and the Kentucky Sheriff’s Association for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.”

Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird, who replaced Jones as police chief and worked alongside him for several years at the police department, said the thing he will remember most about Jones was his honesty.

“I guess the thing that stands out in my mind the most was Russell was the most honest individual that I knew. I don’t think he ever told a lie,” Bird noted. “He was just as honest as honest can be.”

Bird said that he was a child when he first met Jones and one thing, which made an impression on him as a youngster, was the size of Jones’ arms.

“I remember as a kid that Russell had the biggest arms of any man that I knew. His forearms were huge,” Bird noted. “Russell was a gentle giant. He was big but he never really had to use any of that when I worked with him. I don’t think I even saw Russell mad.”

Jones’ visitation will be after 5 p.m. Thursday at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Rob Powers, Dr. Jerry Huffman and Rev. James Hodge officiating.
Jones will be laid to rest in the Davis Addition of Highland Park Cemetery.

The Williamsburg Police Department and Judge Dan Ballou will serve as pallbearers. Johnny Philpot, grandsons, nephews, cousins, the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department and other relatives will serve as honorary pallbearers.

For additional obituary information, see page B-8 in this week’s edition of the News Journal.