Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Officer James Snipes succumbed to a gunshot wound he sustained the night before due to mistaken identity while patrolling a high crime area in Ogden, Utah.
Officer Snipes and his partner noticed a man on a bicycle crossing the bridge at 24th Street over the Weber River at 9:00 p.m. As they walked to investigate, the subject fired at them, thinking they were going to rob him. The officers announced that they were officers, but the subject fired another shot and fled. Officer Snipes was shot in the pelvis, and the other officer suffered a flesh wound on his hand.
Officer Snipes was transported to the local hospital where he died from his wound the following evening.
The subject was an employee with the Southern Pacific Railroad and was fearful of the area based on reports of criminal activity. No charges were filed.
Officer Snipes had been sworn in as a Special Officer with the Ogden Police Department three days before he was shot. They hired extra officers to curb the growing criminal activity in the area. He was survived by his expectant wife and young daughter. His wife gave birth to his son the day after he died.
Survivors
He was survived by his expectant wife and young daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-UT-6A37E0F2- 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.
Special Officer Snipes served with the Ogden Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Ogden community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Snipes.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Officer James David Snipes 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 UT, 84 of 138 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this state's fallen. That is 6.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Ogden Police Department, 9 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 90% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James David Snipes's cause is highlighted.
How James David Snipes Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James David Snipes is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Ogden Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
