Police Officer

Thomas H. Snyder

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Accident
End of Watch September 9, 1858
Age 40
Tour of Duty 4 mo
Gender Male

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.

Police Officer Thomas Snyder served with the Philadelphia Police Department for four months and was assigned to the Fifth Police District.

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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
September 9, 2026

Honored here by 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

Type Police Department
Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 9, 1858
Tour of Duty 4 mo
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Explosion

The Sacrifice · Accident

Thomas is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1858, 3 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 150th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Thomas was 40. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Thomas had served 0.3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Philadelphia Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Thomas H. Snyder

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch September 9, 1858

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 27-W

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