Search for missing Southfield fire chief continues

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A search has resumed for a suburban Detroit fire chief who disappeared after jumping off a boat in Lake St. Clair to retrieve a hat.

Divers returned to the lake Monday morning to search for Southfield Fire Chief Keith Rowley, who has been missing since Friday.

Rowley, who has served the Southfield community for more than 30 years, was boating with friends when he jumped in to the water to retrieve a hat that had blown off the boat, said Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham.

Unfortunately, winds made for extremely rough water, and Rowley was not wearing a life vest. It's presumed he drowned.

"If you know the personalities of our dive team, they would have kept going throughout the night," Wickersham said. "Once they're involved and they get in that water, their determination and their drive is to recover that body. They don't get frustrated, I think it just pushes them harder."

Aside from a strong current that could have moved Rowley's body, dive teams don't have an exact location on where Rowley dove in. The GPS on the boat either wasn't functioning or wasn't on.

"We're working off of cell phone GPS, which isn't an exact science," Wickersham said. "It's a big lake out there and there's a lot to search."

The owner of the boat, whose name has not been officially released, was arrested for operating while intoxicated. However, the sheriff said that did not contribute to the accident.

Rowley has served as Southfield's fire chief since 2012, but has worked for the city for more than 30 years. Friends and colleagues describe him as a consummate professional with a deep love for his community.

Southfield Battalion Chief Barry White said Rowley was his mentor.

"I've known Chief Rowley for 29 years," White said. "We've worked together for a long time. It's hard on his family and hard on everybody."

Southfield Police Chief Eric Hawkins said the city has one of the premiere public safety departments in the state, most of it thanks to Rowley.

"He has a ton of experience in public safety," Hawkins said. "I learned a lot from him. I took a lot of things that he was doing in the fire department and incorporated it into the police department. He's going to be sorely missed."

Memorial fund established for chief's family

The Southeastern Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs has established a fund for Rowley's family. Keith is survived by his wife, Mary, and two adult children, Kyle, 25, and Alyssa 21 , who is currently attending Michigan State University.

Rowley was a member of the organization's executive board.

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