Donations top $100,000 after death of St. Louis-area officer

ST. LOUIS -- An organization that provides financial assistance to families of fallen St. Louis-area police officers has received more than $100,000 in donations since the death of St. Louis County officer Blake Snyder.

Snyder died in the line of duty Oct. 6. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the money raised so far by BackStoppers Inc. is the most it ever has raised in such a short time.

"We are doing our best to keep up with data entry and acknowledgement of donations," said Jacki Bettale, office manager for BackStoppers. "We are very grateful for this outpouring of support from the community."

The organization has not calculated how much of the money raised in the past few days is earmarked by donors specifically for Snyder's widow and their 2-year-old son.

Snyder, 33, was shot to death while answering a disturbance call Oct. 6 in south St. Louis County. A second officer shot the suspect, 18-year-old Trenton Forster, who remains hospitalized. He has been charged with first-degree murder.

Snyder's funeral is planned for today in Chesterfield, Missouri. Up to 600 officers from around the U.S. and Canada are expected to attend, said Jeff Roorda, business manager for the St. Louis Police Officers' Association.

A funeral procession to the grave in Godfrey, Illinois, will cover 50 miles.

Julie Lueck plans to attend. Her husband, Rick Weinhold, was the last county officer killed in the line of duty before Snyder, shot to death in 2000. Her son now is a county officer.

Lueck hopes to talk to Snyder's widow.

"She will triumph," Lueck said. "It's not going to be easy, but she can make him proud."