Redden George Purdy

Shelbyville Police Department — Shelbyville, TN

Felonious

End of Watch October 31, 1911

Age 55

The Vigil Panel 26 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Officer Redden Purdy and Officer Charles Henry were shot and killed by a suspect they had arrested earlier in the day for drunk and disorderly conduct. After posting bail the man swore vengeance on the officers who arrested him. Later that night he ambushed the officers and killed them both. The suspect was apprehended two months later, convicted of two counts of murder, and sentenced to 40 years.

Survivors

Officer Purdie was survived by his wife, two children, two grandchildren, his brothers, sister, nephews, and nieces.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-C1884608
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.
Officer Purdy served with the Shelbyville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Shelbyville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Purdy.

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

Agency

Department Shelbyville Police Department

Location Shelbyville, TN

Platform Identity spd.bedford.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 31, 1911

Age 55

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to 40 years

Officer Redden George 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Shelbyville Police Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Shelbyville Police Department

of 5 officers

60% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious