Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Ernest Purgatorio was shot and killed while he and several other officers investigated a call at a local hotel. An elderly man was believed to have a young girl in his room and the girl's father wanted officers to retrieve her. When the detectives knocked on the man's door and identified themselves, he replied that he would shoot the first person through the door. One of the officers returned to the police station to obtain tear gas and then returned to the scene. The officers kicked the door in, but the man stuck a rifle through the opened door and fired a shot, striking Detective Purgatorio. The man then climbed down a rope ladder to another room and exited to the hotel lobby where he was arrested by other officers. The subject was convicted of manslaughter and served 10 years in prison.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-42E01609- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Purgatorio served with the Springfield Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Springfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Purgatorio.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Ernest Purgatorio is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Springfield Police Department, 9 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 90% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ernest Purgatorio's cause is highlighted.
How Ernest Purgatorio Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest Purgatorio is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ernest Purgatorio was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Springfield Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
