Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Thomas Snyder succumbed to injuries sustained in an explosion during the city's celebration of the laying of the Transatlantic Cable at Prime Street (modern day Washington Avenue) and Broad Street.
Shortly after 7:00 pm, after the ringing of the bells members of the National Artillery fired a 100 gun salute. During the 97th discharge, there was a premature explosion from a cannon seriously injuring Police Officer Snyder and another officer. Both officers were taken to Pennsylvania Hospital where Officer Snyder's arm had to be amputated.
He succumbed to his injuries on September 9th, 1858.
Police Officer Thomas Snyder served with the Philadelphia Police Department for four months and was assigned to the Fifth Police District.
No passage of time will ever erase your service and sacrifice. Rest in peace always.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) September 9th, 2020
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
168 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Snyder served with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Thomas H. Snyder 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 PA, 417 of 1,261 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Philadelphia Police Department, 110 of 378 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas H. Snyder's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas H. Snyder Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas H. Snyder is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
