Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.

mpdc

MPDC

Memorial to John W. Purcell

Officer Killed in the Line of Duty

Date of Death: October 17th, 1923
Rank: Officer
Years of Service: 20
Marital Status: Married
Children: Two
Location of Death: Third Street and Virginia Avenue, SW

Circumstance:

Officers Purcell and Crawford, while in a plain-clothes detail, were walking in an alley when they surprised a group of burglars. Without warning the subjects began shooting, wounding both officers. The officers returned fire, fatally wounding one of the suspects. Officer Purcell suffered two gunshot wounds and later died. 

biography:

 

Return to the list of officers killed in the line of duty.