Howard Snyder

Erie Railroad Police Department — Cleveland, OH

Felonious

End of Watch February 16, 1918

Age 41

The Vigil Panel 33 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 12

Incident

Location: New Jersey Weapon: Handgun Offender: Arrested

Lieutenant Howard Snyder was shot and killed while attempting to arrest railroad boxcar thieves in the Croxton rail yard in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Lieutenant Snyder had detailed a team of officers to the yard after receiving a tip that it would be targeted by thieves that night. As they closed in on the thieves, who were hiding under a boxcar, shots were fired at the officers. It was later determined that two other railroad police officers on the team were complicit with the thieves and opened fire on Lieutenant Snyder as he attempted to arrest the thieves.

Both police officers and two other suspects were arrested and charged in connection with Lieutenant Snyder's murder.

Lieutenant Snyder was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Lieutenant Snyder was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-RR-1552B48F
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Howard. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Lieutenant Snyder served with the Erie Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Snyder.

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

Agency

Department Erie Railroad Police Department

Location Cleveland, OH

Platform Identity erpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 16, 1918

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Arrested

Lieutenant Howard Snyder 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Erie Railroad Police Department, 8 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.5% of this agency's fallen.

Erie Railroad Police Department

of 13 officers

61.5% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious