David G. Snell
Agency patch
Police Officer

David G. Snell

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
End of Watch March 16, 1927
Age 24
Tour of Duty 7 mo
Badge 2399
The Vigil Panel 120 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Snell was struck and killed at 3:05 a.m. by a getaway car that was fleeing from other officers. The incident occurred at the intersection of Grand River and Wabash. Officer Snell had served with the Detroit Police Department for 7 months; assigned to the Eighth Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents, brother, and four sisters.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Snell served with the Detroit Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Snell.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Detroit, Wayne County, MI
Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 16, 1927
Tour of Duty 7 mo
Age 24
Badge Number 2399
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Felonious

David is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1927, 220 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

David was 24. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. David had served 0.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Detroit Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, David among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer David G. Snell

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch March 16, 1927

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 19-W

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