Howard Snider had decided to spend his Father’s Day on a fishing boat with family at Lake Geode in Henry County. While the boat was pulled up to the main dock, winds caused the boat to drift away from the dock while Snider’s daughter remained inside the quickly escaping vessel. Unable to start the boat herself, Snider swam out to assist. While he was approaching the boat he suddenly went underwater.

He never resurfaced.

At 4 PM Sunday, June 17, Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a potential drowning at Geode State Park. The area was suddenly alive with officials from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa State Patrol, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, New London Fire and Rescue and Henry County EMS. Between their efforts the body of Howard James Snider, 51, was recovered from the water at 6:08 PM.

The State Medical Examiner’s Office preliminary report stated Snider’s cause of death was drowning, said a Henry County news release.

The Ames Police community was shocked, considering Snider a tremendous attribute to the force. Snider, who had previously been a correctional officer at the Iowa State Penitentiary and had served in the U.S. Marine Corps, began working for the Ames Police on Jan. 23, 1989, as a patrol officer. Snider was promoted to corporal on Oct. 21, 1997 and to sergeant on Oct. 15, 2002.

While with the Ames Police, Snider worked with the Central Iowa Drug Task Force, the Ames Police Department Emergency Response Team and the Safe Neighborhoods team. He also served as a security officer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Disaster Medical Service.

Snider was supervising the department’s Safe Neighborhoods team at the time of his death. The Ames Police Department is currently putting a hold on filling the position. Commander of Investigations Jim Robinson commented, “It will be appointed eventually, but this early in the incident, it isn’t one of our top priorities.”

Officers described him as dedicated, fair and a hero to many. “He was a great officer and a great man. He will be missed,” Robinson said.

Snider is survived by his wife and two children.