UPDATE: Ames Police Sergeant Drowns in Southeast Iowa

An sergeant who was known among his peers for being "firm and fair" was lost to a presumed drowning over Father's Day Weekend in Henry County.

Sgt. Howard Snider, 51, of the Ames Police Safe Neighborhoods Team, drowned Sunday in Lake Geode. He had a wife and two children.

Emergency dispatchers took a call about a possible drowning near the main boat ramp at about 4 p.m. Sunday, according to a release from the Henry County Sheriff's Office. Snider's body was recovered about 6 p.m.

Read more: and

Snider lived in Nevada. He became a member of the police department in 1989 and was promoted to sergeant in 2002, said Jim Robinson, Ames Police CMDR.

Robinson said he understood that Snider was on a family outing when the accident occured. 

"It's just a very sad time," Robinson said.

Henry County Sheriff's Office and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating the drowning.

Before Snider came to Ames Police Department he worked as a correctional officer for the Iowa State Penitentiary and also served in the U.S. Marine Corps. 

"Howard was a leader in the Ames Police Department and committed to the success of our Safe Neighborhoods Team," Steve Schainker, Ames City Manager, said in a statement prepared by the city.

"He believed in community policing and knew the work he was doing was important. He improved the lives of many people throughout his career," Schainker said.

Snider was a mentor to new officers Ames Police Chief Chuck Cychosz said in the city statement.

"Howard was a very dedicated law enforcement officer and will truly be missed by all members of his law enforcement family," Cychosz said.  

Snider who was known for being "firm and fair" served many assignments as an officer with the Ames Police Department. He was on the Central Iowa Drug Task Force, Ames Police Department Emergency Response Team, and was also a member of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Disaster Medical Service. 

Mayor Ann Campbell said her and the City Council's thoughts are with Snider's family. 

"Strengthening and protection neighborhoods has long been a goal of the Ames City Council; however it falls on the shoulders of people like Sgt. Snider to give meaning to those words. Howard took that idea to heart," Campbell said in the city's statement.