Police Officer Edward O'Brien Pursell

Edward O'Brien Pursell

Police Officer Edward Pursell suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after struggling with a suspect he was attempting to arrest.

The subject resisted arrest after using offensive language directed towards the police department. About 15 minutes later Officer Pursell began to feel ill and was taken to a local hospital. He remained under an oxygen tent for two days until passing away.

Officer Pursell was a WWI veteran. He had served with the Pensacola Police Department for 10 months and had previously served as a civilian police officer for the Pensacola Naval Air Station. He was survived by his wife, five children, sister, and three brothers.