Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Wallie Howard was shot and killed during an undercover drug investigation at 2735 S. Salina Street. Officer Howard was working with the Central New York DEA Task Force. At about 2:30 p.m. on October 30th, 1990, he was preparing to purchase a large amount of cocaine for $42,000 in cash. Officer Howard was alone and seated in the front passenger seat of a car in a supermarket parking lot when the two suspects approached. One suspect was armed with a .22 caliber handgun. He climbed into the driver’s seat of Officer Howard's car while the second suspect walked to the passenger side window carrying a .357 revolver. As the first suspect pulled his gun Officer Howard reached for his own firearm. The second suspect, standing outside the car, fired once, striking Officer Howard in the head at point-blank range. In the seconds before he was shot Officer Howard was able to fire his weapon twice, striking and wounding the first suspect. Both suspects attempted to flee the scene but were immediately apprehended by back-up officers. Officer Howard died at 8:15 p.m. that evening without regaining consciousness. The 16-year-old killer was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. He was paroled in October 2020. The killer's accomplice, who was also a juvenile at the time of the murder, had his sentence commuted on January 20th, 2021, by outgoing President Donald Trump as one of his final acts in office. Officer Howard had served with the Syracuse Police Department for nine years.
Survivors
He is survived by his mother, fiancée, and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-3117AD72- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Howard gave the Syracuse Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Syracuse community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Howard.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Wallie Howard Jr. is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,775 officers honored here.
In NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Syracuse Police Department, 9 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wallie Howard Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Wallie Howard Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wallie Howard Jr. is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Wallie Howard Jr. was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Syracuse Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
