James J. Purcell

Baltimore Police Dept. — Baltimore, MD

Felonious

End of Watch October 24, 1955

Age 51

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Badge 252

The Vigil Panel 91 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 150

Incident

Sergeant James Purcell was shot and killed with his own service revolver during a struggle at a domestic dispute at 134 West Lanvale Street. The suspect was shot and killed by other responding officers. Sergeant Purcell had served with the agency for 16 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MD-73C561E8
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.
Sergeant Purcell gave the Baltimore City Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baltimore community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Purcell.

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

Agency

Department Baltimore Police Dept.

Location Baltimore, MD

Platform Identity baltpd.baltimore.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 24, 1955

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Age 51

Badge Number 252

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Shot and killed

Sergeant James J. 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Baltimore Police Dept., 80 of 151 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this agency's fallen.

Baltimore Police Dept.

of 151 officers

53% Felonious

MD — Statewide

195

of 377 officers

51.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious