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Sheriff

Will S. Purple

Emmet County Sheriff's Department — Petoskey, MI

Felonious

End of Watch September 5, 1923

Age 54

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 45 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Sheriff Will S. Purple was shot and killed while attempting to serve a court order at a residence near Wequetonsing Golf Course. In the course of his duties, Sheriff Purple was serving a court order to seize personal property belonging to the suspect. The suspect became angered by this action and entered his house, emerging with a shotgun. He proceeded to open fire on Sheriff Purple, fatally wounding the officer. Sheriff Purple was able to return fire, hitting the assailant four times before succumbing to his wounds. The suspect died from his wounds ten days later. Sheriff Purple had served with the Emmet County Sheriff's Department for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-3CA23300
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.
Sheriff Purple gave the Emmet County Sheriff's Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Petoskey community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Purple.

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

Agency

Department Emmet County Sheriff's Department

Location Petoskey, MI

Platform Identity ecso.emmet.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 5, 1923

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 54

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Sheriff Will S. Purple 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Emmet County Sheriff's Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Will S. Purple's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Will S. Purple Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Will S. Purple is highlighted in Sep.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Will S. Purple was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518