Chief of Police, Nicholas Snyder, has served with the Lancaster Police Department since 2005. He served in multiple capacities including patrol officer, detective, Major Crimes Unit / SCRAP, Special Response Team, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. He is a former commander of the department’s Special Response Team and Special Services Units. In 2022, Snyder was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police, and a short time later, Chief of Police. 

Snyder received his bachelor's degree in Criminology from Ohio University, a graduate certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia, and is finishing a Master's of Science in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership at the University of San Diego, California. Chief Snyder is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (Class 297) and the FBI - LEEDA Trilogy Leadership Institute program. He maintains multiple professional memberships including: Police Executive Research Forum, FBI National Academy Associates, FBI-LEEDA, Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, International Association of Chiefs of Police, International Homicide Investigators Association, and the Ohio Tactical Officers Association. He is a member of the Lancaster Rotary Club, Lancaster Public Education Foundation, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

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Chief Snyder's primary goal is to protect the members of his organization and the citizens of Lancaster. He is a staunch supporter of officer safety and an advocate for advanced training. Chief Snyder recognizes that law enforcement must break its comfortable boundaries while further pushing expectations and processes.