apt - Trying to remove kernels

I am trying to remove old kernels in an encrypted system. I am getting kernels marked for purge, but installed after my efforts.

I start with removing leftover temporary files from previous kernel updates

$ sudo rm -rv ${TMPDIR:-/var/tmp}/mkinitramfs-*

My current version number is 4.4.0-127-generic

Here is my list currently after several attempts. I'm trying to keep 127 (my current version, and 124)

$ dpkg -l | tail -n +6 | grep -E 'linux-image-[0-9]+'
pi  linux-image-4.4.0-112-generic              4.4.0-112.135                                amd64        Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
pi  linux-image-4.4.0-116-generic              4.4.0-116.140                                amd64        Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP

pi  linux-image-4.4.0-119-generic              4.4.0-119.143                                amd64        Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
pi  linux-image-4.4.0-121-generic              4.4.0-121.145                                amd64        Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii  linux-image-4.4.0-122-generic              4.4.0-122.146                                amd64        Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii  linux-image-4.4.0-124-generic              4.4.0-124.148                                amd64        Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii  linux-image-4.4.0-127-generic              4.4.0-127.153                                amd64        Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP

So, say I try to remove 4.4.0-119

I free space in boot by removing initrd.img file

$ sudo update-initramfs -d -k 4.4.0-119-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-119-generic

I try purging the kernal

$ sudo dpkg --purge linux-image-4.4.0-119-generic linux-image-extra-4.4.0-119-generic

dpkg: dependency problems prevent removal of linux-image-4.4.0-119-generic:

 linux-signed-image-4.4.0-119-generic depends on linux-image-4.4.0-119-generic (= 4.4.0-119.143).

dpkg: error processing package linux-image-4.4.0-119-generic (--purge):
 dependency problems - not removing
(Reading database ... 513541 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-image-extra-4.4.0-119-generic (4.4.0-119.143) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.4.0-119-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-119-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 4.4.0-119-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-119-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-119-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-119-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-119-generic

run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/pm-utils 4.4.0-119-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-119-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/unattended-upgrades 4.4.0-119-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-119-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 4.4.0-119-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-119-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-119-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-119-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Warning: Setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to a non-zero value when GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT is set is no longer supported.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-127-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-127-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-124-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-124-generic

Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-122-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-122-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-121-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-121-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-119-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-119-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-116-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-116-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-112-generic
done

Purging configuration files for linux-image-extra-4.4.0-119-generic (4.4.0-119.143) ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
 linux-image-4.4.0-119-generic

Doing this changes the status of the kernel to pi. This is the method I used previously to remove old kernels. I'm not sure what changed here.