Roll of Honor
Incident
Captain Vernie Snellen was killed in an automobile crash on the Dixie Highway, three miles from Georgetown, while returning from working a detail in Covington, Kentucky.
The car's accelerator became stuck, causing the vehicle to veer into the path of another car on the wet roadway. Captain Snellen suffered severe injuries and died the following the day. The lieutenant driving the patrol car and the occupants of the other vehicle all survived.
Captain Snellen was a WWI veteran. He was survived by his wife and five children.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-81B7E3CC- 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.
Captain Snellen served with the Kentucky Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of Kentucky. Thank you 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
Vernie C. Snellen served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Captain Vernie C. Snellen 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 KY, 161 of 983 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 16.4% of this state's fallen. That is 14.6 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Kentucky Highway Patrol, 3 of 8 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 37.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Vernie C. Snellen's cause is highlighted.
How Vernie C. Snellen Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Vernie C. Snellen is highlighted in Feb.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Kentucky Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw.
