James A. Mynderse

Schenectady Police Department — Schenectady, NY

Accident

End of Watch March 31, 1900

Age 42

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Badge 21

The Vigil Panel 16 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Patrolman James Mynderse was struck and killed by a train in the downtown area of Schenectady. A woman who was shopping in the area was crossing a double track when two trains from opposite directions were approaching. The woman became paralyzed with fear, and Patrolman Mynderse, who was at a walking post near the crossing, immediately ran to her and pushed her out of the way. Patrolman Mynderse narrowly escaped being struck by the first train but stepped back onto the other tracks and was struck by the second train. The City Council honored his service by naming a new street after him. Patrolman Mynderse had served with the Schenectady Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-081CED56
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Mynderse gave the Schenectady Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Schenectady community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Mynderse.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Schenectady Police Department

Location Schenectady, NY

Platform Identity schepd.schenectady.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 31, 1900

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 42

Badge Number 21

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Patrolman James A. Mynderse 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 NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.

At Schenectady Police Department, 4 of 9 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 44.4% of this agency's fallen.

Schenectady Police Department

of 9 officers

44.4% Accident

NY — Statewide

645

of 2,147 officers

30% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident