202-905-8885 deasbf@deasbf.org
DEA Survivors Benefit Fund

Police Investigator Wallie Howard Jr., of the Syracuse, New York Police Department, was killed on October 30, 1990, while serving on the Central New York Drug Enforcement Task Force. Officer Howard was shot during an undercover operation when drug traffickers from Brooklyn, New York, attempted to rob him of $42,000 he had for the purchase of two kilograms of cocaine. He was 31 years of age at the time of his death. Investigator Howard was a nine-year veteran and was the recipient of three bureau commendations as a result of several undercover drug investigations. In honor of Howard’s outstanding work in drug investigations, a “Wallie Howard Medal” was created and is awarded annually at the Syracuse Police Medal Awards ceremony. Investigator Howard was survived by his wife, Cynthia Boggs; his son, Wallie III; his daughter, Cynthia; and his mother, Delores Howard.

The Survivors Benefit Fund is not part of the US Department of Justice (DOJ) or Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) but, instead, is a private 501(c)(3) organization that supports the families of DEA agents, employees, and task force officers who gave their lives in the line-of-duty. Neither the DOJ nor DEA approves, endorses, or authorizes the Survivors Benefit Fund, its materials, or its fundraising efforts.