Incident
Officer Gordon Schneider was killed in an automobile accident while on duty. Officer Schneider was on duty at Griswold and W. Fort streets when he observed a car illegally parked with the motor running in front of the Penobscot Building on the Fort Street side. He informed the female passenger that the car would have to be moved and was told she would attempt to contact the owner who was in the building. The officer began walking back to his post. At that time the passenger, attempting to leave the car from the driver's side, accidentally jammed the accelerator of the car causing it to careen down the curb lane directly at the officer. Screams from nearby pedestrians alerted the officer to the danger and, seeing an elderly man about to step into the street, Officer Schneider quickly shoved the man back to the safety of the sidewalk as the car struck him. He was hurled onto the hood of the driver-less car which then sped across Fort Street and crashed into a utility pole. Officer Schneider, who was thrown to the pavement, was rushed to Receiving Hospital where he died four days later as the result of severe head and internal injuries.
Survivors
Officer Schneider served with the Detroit Police Department for 17 years and was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-97AC3002- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Gordon. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Schneider gave the Detroit Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Schneider.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Gordon G. Schneider is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MI, 229 of 718 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.9% of this state's fallen. That is 0.9 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Detroit Police Department, 58 of 250 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 23.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gordon G. Schneider's cause is highlighted.
How Gordon G. Schneider Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Gordon G. Schneider is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
249 officers from Detroit Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















