Acting Chief Armand J. Roussel
1921 - 1971

50 Years Old
Tour of Duty: 18 Years
Died on October 27, 1971

Cause of Death: Gunshot

Date of Incident: Friday, October 15, 1971

Weapon Used : Handgun

Suspect Info: Calvin Parker, Fatally shot at the scene

Acting Chief Roussel joined the Nashua Police Department in 1953 and was appointed Acting Chief on September 25, 1971. He was born in Nashua on April 6, 1921, and was a life long resident. He served with the United States Navy in World War II, during which he received numerous commendations and citations. He was an Honorary New Hampshire Deputy Sheriff and a member of the Nashua Police Relief Association.

On the evening of Friday, October 15, 1971, Acting Chief Roussel went to an apartment on Gingras drive in Nashua with other officers after residents had called the police to report that an armed man was causing a disturbance. When Acting Chief Roussel arrived, he found Calvin Parker sitting on his front doorstep holding a pistol to the back of another man. Parker was known to the Nashua Police and had recently been paroled from the New Hampshire State Prison for walking into the Nashua police station and opening fire with weapons concealed beneath his coat.

Parker would not speak to the officers, but demanded to talk to the chief. Acting Chief Roussel approached Parker along with acting Inspector Raymond Landry. Parker demanded to see the chief again and when Acting Chief Roussel responded that he was the Acting Chief, Parker pushed his hostage to one side and fired three shots into Roussel from a distance of approximately six feet.

Acting Chief Roussel was taken to the hospital where he began to recover, but, twelve days later, he died suddenly from a pulmonary embolism. Parker died at the scene in the ensuing gun battle. Acting Chief Roussel was 50 years old.

He was survived by his wife five sons and one daughter.