Southfield fire chief’s body found in Lake St. Clair
Harrison Township — Divers on Monday evening recovered the body of Southfield Fire Chief Keith Rowley, who went overboard and slipped underwater while boating Friday evening.
The recovery, at about 7:10 p.m., came on the third full day of searching, said Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham. A Macomb Sheriff Aviation Unit located the body of Rowley, 58, of Milford, and marine division deputies and the dive team recovered the body from about 12 feet of water. The location of the body was about a 1/2 mile from the original search area, Wickersham said in a statement.
“He did go underneath the water, and the window for someone possibly being rescued is usually about an hour,” Wickersham said Saturday. “Usually, after an hour, it turns into a recovery.”
At approximately 7:12 p.m. Friday the sheriff’s office received a 911 call reporting that a person had gone overboard off a boat on Lake St. Clair and others on the boat were unable to locate him, according to the sheriff’s office.
Wickersham says Rowley went into the water, off Harrison Township, to retrieve a hat.
Southfield Fire Dept. Battalion Chief Barry White stood on shore Saturday with his back to Lake St. Clair, near the area where divers searched. He talked to reporters about the fire chief, whom he called one of his “best friends.”
“People in our department are hurting,” he said. “This is obviously a very difficult day. Our thoughts are with Chief Rowley’s family. Our command officers are in charge right now.”
Southfield Mayor Donald Fracassi described Rowley as “one of Southfield’s finest.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Rowley family at this very difficult time,” Fracassi said in a statement released by the city. “He is known for his outstanding character and positive personality. He is an outstanding fire chief and is well liked and respected by the department and the community.”
White said the Southfield Fire Department, which employs 84 people, opened in 1942 and serves the city and Lathrup Village.
“We are carrying on today with a strong command staff,” he said. “We are hurting but we are responding as usual.”
Asked if the chief was a strong swimmer, White responded: “He was an exceptional athlete and spent a lot of time in the water.”
He said Rowley, a native of Southfield, joined the fire department in 1979 and was promoted to chief in 2012.
Three other occupants were aboard the boat. The operator of the boat, a 55-year-old male from Troy was taken into custody for operating a watercraft while intoxicated. His name was not released. Also on board was a 55-year-female from Rochester Hills and a 38-year-old female from Bloomfield Township.
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