Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Francis Schneible succumbed to a shotgun wound sustained 24 years earlier when he was shot while attempting to arrest a shoplifter in downtown Dover. The manager of a Woolworth store had caught the man stealing a $3.00 pair of underwear and chased him to an abandoned house at 426 Loockerman Street. Patrolman Schneible and another officer arrived and accompanied the manager into the home. As the officers began to search the home the man opened fire with a shotgun, striking Patrolman Schneible in the side. The other officer then shot and killed the subject. Patrolman Schneible, a U.S. Air Force veteran, recovered from his injuries and later returned to work. He served with the Dover Police Department for 11 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-DE-6E13CDCE- 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.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Schneible gave the Dover Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dover community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Francis T. Schneible served in the Air Force (1964â1968) before joining law enforcement.
Patrolman Francis T. Schneible is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In DE, 25 of 51 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 49% of this state's fallen. That is 5.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Dover Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Francis T. Schneible's cause is highlighted.
How Francis T. Schneible Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killled
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Francis T. Schneible is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Francis T. Schneible was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Dover Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
