Raymond William Purdy

Metropolitan Police — London, ENG

Felonious

End of Watch July 13, 1959

Age 43

The Vigil Panel 194 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 728

Incident

Shot through the heart and killed by a prisoner he had just arrested for blackmail. The prisoner was a Canadian who had fled to the U.K. where he continued his criminal ways by blackmailing wealthy ladies living in West London. After his arrest outside South Kensington Underground Station, the man broke free and ran into the hallway of a block of flats at 105, Onslow Square, pursued by officers who promptly apprehended him again. While being escorted to a waiting police car, the man pulled out an automatic pistol and shot DS Purdy before escaping. He was arrested again a few days later, tried at the Old Bailey, found guilty and subsequently hanged.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-GB-MEP-693C4288
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Added to badge.nw: April 8, 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 Sergeant Purdy served with the Metropolitan Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Purdy.

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

Agency

Department Metropolitan Police

Location London, ENG

Platform Identity mpd.wsm.eng.gb.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 13, 1959

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Homicide - Shot

Detective Sergeant Raymond William Purdy 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 ENG, 702 of 2,827 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 29.4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Metropolitan Police, 185 of 729 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25.4% of this agency's fallen.

Metropolitan Police

185

of 729 officers

25.4% Felonious

ENG — Statewide

702

of 2,827 officers

24.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious