Detective Ernest Purgatoria
Springfield Police Department
Illinois
End of Watch: Monday, July 31, 1933

Biographical Info
Age: 26
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Monday, July 31, 1933
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Released after 10 years

Detective Ernest Purgatoria was shot and killed while he and several other officers investigated a call at a local hotel.

An elderly man was believed to have a young girl in his room and the girl's father wanted the police to retrieve her. When the detectives knocked on the man's door and identified themselves, he replied that he would shoot the first person through the door. One of the officers returned to the police station to obtain tear gas and then returned to the scene.

The officers kicked the door in, but the man stuck a rifle through the opened door and fired a shot, striking Detective Purgatoria. The man then climbed down a rope ladder to another room and then exited to the hotel lobby where he was arrested by other officers.

The suspect was convicted of manslaughter and served 10 years in prison.