John J. Schneider
Agency patch
Investigator

John J. Schneider

Felonious Veteran
End of Watch September 7, 1980
Age 55
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
Badge 505
The Vigil Panel 123 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Investigator John Schneider was shot and killed after he and two other deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at a mobile home on Ontario Lane in Goodview. As the deputies attempted to force their way into the mobile home, the man opened fire with a .22-caliber rifle and struck Investigator Schneider in the chest. The suspect gave himself up after 40 minutes. On January 19, 1981, the suspect, 34, was convicted of first-degree murder and was subsequently sentenced to life. He died in prison in 2025. Investigator Schneider, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, had served with the Winona County Sheriff's Department for 22 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-6401F449
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.
Investigator Schneider gave the Winona County Sheriff's Department 22 years.
Thank you for your service to the Winona 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

Location Winona, MN
Platform Identity wcso.winona.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 7, 1980
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
Age 55
Badge Number 505
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle; .22 caliber
Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

John J. Schneider served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Investigator John J. Schneider 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 MN, 173 of 293 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59% of this state's fallen. That is 4.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Winona County Sheriff's Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
MN — Statewide
173
of 293 officers
59% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John J. Schneider's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How John J. Schneider Compares

Age at End of Watch
55
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
22
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John J. Schneider is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John J. Schneider was killed by rifle; .22 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location