Erie Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police
End of Watch: Saturday, February 16, 1918
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 16, 1918
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: 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.