Raymond William Purdy

Died

13 July 1959

Age

Rank

Detective Sergeant

Force

Metropolitan Police

Cause

Homicide - Shot

Duty Status

On Duty

Roll of Honour Citation

Shot through the heart and killed by a prisoner he had just arrested for blackmail.

Roll of Honour Citation

Shot through the heart and killed by a prisoner he had just arrested for blackmail.

Circumstances

Having traced and arrested a male for blackmail they were walking to the police car, when the male escaped and ran into the hall of a block of flats in Onslow Square, Kensington, where he was re-captured. Detective Sergeant Sandford went to get the Police Car, leaving Detective Sergeant Purdy guarding the male in the hall of the flats. While Detective Sergeant Purdy was distracted, the male pulled out an automatic pistol and shot DS Purdy in the heart.

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.