Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Purce Wansley was shot and killed at 0100 hours when he attempted to arrest a man for threatening to kill another person. During the arrest the man produced a pistol and shot Detective Wansley five times. A week later the suspect was found hiding under a house on Duncan Street just one block from police headquarters. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. He was executed in the electric chair on April 29, 1938.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-E6971A9F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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 Wansley served with the Charleston Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Charleston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Wansley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Purce A. Wansley 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 SC, 272 of 441 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.7% of this state's fallen. That is 61.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Charleston Police Department, 12 of 24 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Purce A. Wansley's cause is highlighted.
How Purce A. Wansley Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Purce A. Wansley is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Purce A. Wansley was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
23 officers from Charleston Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
