George V. Purcell

Dayton Police Department — Dayton, OH

Felonious

End of Watch September 23, 1916

Age 40

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Badge 40

The Vigil Panel 31 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 30

Incident

Detective George Purcell was shot and killed while attempting to arrest question a suspect for carrying a concealed weapon at 755 South Euclid Avenue at 8:30 p.m. He was shot three times by a suspect who was later arrested after a massive manhunt. It was later discovered the wrong man was apprehended. The suspect was identified but never captured. Detective Purcell had served with the Dayton Police Department for 13 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-0BCBE1E2
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Purcell gave the Dayton Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dayton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Purcell.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Dayton Police Department

Location Dayton, OH

Platform Identity dpd.montgomery.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 23, 1916

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Age 40

Badge Number 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender At large

Detective George V. Purcell is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Dayton Police Department, 18 of 31 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.1% of this agency's fallen.

Dayton Police Department

of 31 officers

58.1% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious