Fundraiser Honors Fallen Baltimore County Police Officer

By Kevin E. Dayhoff

An event is being held in Cockeysville tomorrow, Sunday, Sept. 29, to honor Jason Schneider, a Manchester resident and Baltimore County Police officer who was killed in the line of duty in late August. 

Schneider, 36, died at Shock Trauma after being shot while serving a warrant in Precinct 1/Wilkens on Aug. 28.

He was the husband of Ericka Nicole Fulton Schneider and is survived by his two children Brandon and Kayla, two brothers and their spouses, Kenneth and Autumn Schneider of Hampstead and Michael and Nicole Schneider of Westminster.

He was a 1995 graduate of North Carroll High School. After his graduation, he served in the U.S Marine Corps. In addition to his duties as a police officer, Schneider was a member of the Baltimore County Police Swat Team for the past nine years.

Schneider was well-known and respected in the close-knit circles of law enforcement and hundreds of police officers from all over the mid-Atlantic region converged at the viewing at the Eckhardt Funeral home in Manchester on Aug. 30. Gov. Martin O’Malley also visited with friends and family at the funeral home.

A Requiem Mass was celebrated on Saturday, Aug. 31, at St. Bartholomew Roman Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Michael Roach officiated. Schneider was finally laid to rest after the funeral in Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. Hundreds of first responders and police officers lined the funeral route to the cemetery.

The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #4 is hosting the event to honor Schneider and raise money for the Schneider Memorial Fund. The cost for food, beer and beverages is $5 per person for police, firefighters/EMS, teachers and their families. The cost to the general public is $10 per person.  

Organizers said that there will be plenty of food and drinks, as well as raffles and auctions for prizes and gift baskets including wine, restaurant gift cards, cigars, firearms, a fishing charter, rounds of golf, a photo shoot, jewelry, overnight stay in an historic home and more. They'll also have multiple screens showing the Baltimore Ravens football game.

Event proceeds will be donated to the memorial fund established by the FOP Lodge #4 in honor of Fallen Hero Officer Jason Schneider to help his wife and kids.

“The business community has really come through with an overwhelming show of support; in addition to the items listed below we have pre-raised over $4,500," organizers said. "We have custom T-shirts being made up to thank those who spend $200 or more on Sunday, as well as stickers with the same logo for the first 300 attendees. The shirts will not be available afterwards. All SWAT operators (any jurisdiction) will have complimentary VIP access.”

The fundraiser honoring fallen Baltimore County Police Officer First Class Jason Schneider is scheduled to take place this Sunday, Sept. 29th, at the Humidour Cigar Shoppe in Cockeysville from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Parking will be available at the business park just up Sherwood Road (there is staircase leading to the Humidour). The Episcopal church across the street has opened up their parking lot starting at 1 p.m. Overflow parking is available in the business/industry park located off of Railroad Avenue, and there will be  a shuttle from the parking lot of Titan Crossfit after 12 p.m.

For those who cannot make it to this Sunday’s event, contributions may be made to F.O.P. LODGE #4 and include on the memo line SCHNEIDER MEMORIAL FUND; mail the check to F.O.P. Lodge #4, 9304 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 21234.

For more information contact Finnie P. Helmuth, The Humidour Cigar Shoppe at 410-666-3212.