Roll of Honor
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- 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 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Sergeant Raymond William Purdy 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 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 24.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Raymond William Purdy's cause is highlighted.
How Raymond William Purdy Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Raymond William Purdy is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
728 officers from Metropolitan Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
