Leadership of search groups changes

The Daily Inter Lake

Flathead County Sheriff's deputy Tom Snyder is retiring, turning over leadership of the county's search-and-rescue teams to deputy Jordan White.

"I'm tired," Snyder said, after being constantly on call to rescue lost recreationists. The job oversees North Valley and Flathead search-and-rescue teams, as well as Nordic Ski Patrol and other allied search groups. By law, the sheriff's office is responsible for search-and-rescue duties.

Snyder was responsible for training for the 100 or so volunteers in the organizations.

"He did a wonderful job," Undersheriff Mike Meehan said. "He is a wonderful organizer… a real sharp guy."

Snyder's responsibility falls to White, who said he's ready for the challenge.

A full-time deputy for five years, White is a member of the sheriff's SWAT group, commander of the dive team he formed three years ago, coordinator of the county's neighbor watch program, training officer, the sheriff's representative on the Crimestoppers board, and now search-and-rescue coordinator.

"I'm very excited and honored to be considered for the position," White said. "I'm picking up Tom's vision for the future… I've been working with Tom to get all the training and certifications to be able to do this job."

White said he has both the energy and commitment to manage search-and-rescue volunteers, who are a unique and invaluable part of the community, training in conditions most people wouldn't consider.

Last week, about 15 members of the dive team trained at night in the freezing water of Flathead Lake.

"The reality is, you have to be prepared to work in those environments," White said.

The demands on volunteers include up-to-date training, the willingness to leave their families and their jobs if possible to help people in trouble, and to suffer the difficulties of weather and terrain that come with most searches.

White cited the Jewel Basin search last year as an example of "the most memorable and positive search I've even been involved in."

Snyder coordinated more than 80 volunteers in an exhausting search for two teenagers who were rescued after two nights of punishing March weather in the mountains. Officials said the two boys probably wouldn't have survived another night in the mountains.

Snyder sapped every ounce of his energy, agonizing when search helicopters couldn't find the men, working until Sheriff Jim Dupont sent him home for some rest at about 8 a.m. after haunting the sheriff's office all night.

The men were found, soaked but unhurt.

The reward for the searchers was the gratitude of the teenagers' families, even though most didn't get to see an emotional reunion between the two young men they saved and their laughing, crying parents. By then, the rescuers were warming themselves, refueling their snowmobiles and getting ready for the next search.

"If they hadn't committed to training and education, lives would have been lost and it would have been a tragedy," White said.

He, too, has had long days with the dive team, in which he "rarely slept, ate, or got warm until the job was done.It's been the happiest I have ever been, working with volunteers who are willing to commit themselves to something bigger than themselves."

White credits his wife, Laura, for supporting him in the demands that lie ahead of him now.

"I think he'll do a great job," Dupont said. "He's always been a great deputy. He's a good communicator. That's what it takes in this job."