Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff John Snyder was shot and killed after responding to a disturbance at a church in Bushtown.
He was found in a ditch a block away, robbed of his personal belongings, and handcuffed with two gunshot wounds to his body. Although there were a lot of witnesses, no one seemed to know what happened.
On March 13, 1925, a man was arrested and charged with Deputy Snyder's murder. The only witness, the suspect's sister, was found to be unreliable and of bad character. The suspect was tried and acquitted.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-7FF7AC4E- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Snyder gave the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chattanooga community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Snyder.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John A. 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, 12 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John A. Snyder's cause is highlighted.
How John A. Snyder Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John A. Snyder is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Hamilton County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
