Fallen cop was experienced in search in rescue

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, March 25, 1998 | 9:41 a.m.

MOUNT CHARLESTON -- The Metro Police officer killed Tuesday after thousands of pounds of ice fell on him during a training exercise was an experienced member of the Search and Rescue team who had assisted scores of hikers and climbers over the years.

Russell Peterson, 40, an eight-year Metro veteran, had just finished descending from a frozen waterfall about 3 p.m. when a massive chunk of ice loosened and collapsed, falling on top of him.

The falling ice barely missed a volunteer member of the Search and Rescue team, who had been training with Peterson. The volunteer, whose name Metro was not releasing this morning, hiked for two hours to reach the Mount Charleston Lodge, where he called Metro to report the tragedy.

Two members of the S&R team immediately responded to the scene, where they spent the night with Peterson's body. Dozens of Metro officers and S&R volunteers responded first thing this morning to retrieve the partially buried body for transport to the Clark County Coroner's office.

Ice training is accomplished frequently by the Search and Rescue team, which consists of four officers and about 25 volunteers. The team needs to train in order to be ready when a hiker or climber gets stranded on a ledge or falls.

Lt. Rick Alba, a Metro Police spokesman, said today that the rugged area where Peterson was killed, on Echo Face near the Cathedral Rock area, is a popular spot for climbers and hikers.

"It's one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult, climbs in the state," Alba said.

He said the Search & Rescue team gets emergency calls to that area all the time and that Peterson has been involved in all of them in recent years.

"He's been in on every rescue on the mountain," Alba said.

Alba said the Search & Rescue team is a very close-knit unit and that Peterson's loss will be felt very deeply. "Even to be selected as a volunteer on this unit is a high honor," Alba said.

Peterson's wife arrived at the lodge about 8:30 this morning. Police said in addition to his wife, he is survived by three brothers and his mother, who are on their way to Las Vegas from their homes out of state.