The definition of commitment wears a badge and carries a firehose around the City of La Porte. As a member of the fire department for 32 years and department chief for 14 of those years, he still is not finished with his work yet.
Meet Andy Snyder, La Porte Fire Chief, who has held the title under four different mayors of the city. A career decision he made in his early years has now formed into a dedication practice that he continues to do for the community.
“I was hired onto the La Porte Fire Department when I was 21,” Snyder said. “And after that, I never gave it a second thought.”
Snyder’s family was also very dedicated to firefighting while he grew up. Even after they all moved to Northwest Indiana when he was five years old, his family members continued to work for the department they cared for the most.
“My dad was a Chicago firefighter, and then I have an older brother who is also a Chicago firefighter,” he said.
Because of this, Snyder always viewed the fire department as a second home but wanted to keep his options open while exploring.
“As I went to school and got older, I found an interest in firefighting but also wanted to look at some other options,” he said.
Snyder began college and then took up working in aviation with the goal in mind to follow in his father and brother’s footsteps.
“The ultimate goal was to be a Chicago firefighter in their helicopter division,” he said.
But as it’s been said, the best opportunities come when you least expect it.
“As the opportunity came up in La Porte while I was still living in La Porte, I took it.”
Flash forward to 2021, Snyder has been on the front lines for the La Porte community for the past three decades. Now, as the fire chief, he oversees the department as well as the city.
“There are a lot of other duties that fall under the title, including budgeting, meeting the needs of the department, and it even goes beyond that to day-to-day operations and the chain of command,” he said.
He also describes being chief as a “liaison-type position” between the administration and the department itself. Snyder also steps in to help at the scene of any large incidents in La Porte and surrounding towns.
Even with the numerous responsibilities on his plate, Snyder could not be more content.
“It’s been an amazing career, and it’s not over yet,” he said. “It has never been the same day twice, and I wouldn’t trade it for a minute even through the low points I’ve had to see or do.”
His favorite part has been being able to make a difference on days that seem like nothing will help.
“When people are at their worst, whether it be something small or large, like even saving their life, the department has made a difference for them at their most-needed time,” Snyder said.
Through his work with the fire department, Snyder has come to appreciate the relationships he has built with family, friends, and community members even more than he did before.
“Value the relationships you have in life. So often, in my life and in my position, I’ve seen a moment end in a second,” he said.
Snyder cherishes time with his family by traveling. As an adventure crew, he, his wife and his daughter have gone with him to California, Yosemite National Park, Alaska, Florida, and Arkansas’s Ozark Mountains just to name a few destinations. During these trips, they enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and boating.
Snyder reminisced on their most recent trip to Arkansas, but says he is excited to travel to a new spot. Next year, they’re thinking Hawaii.
Out of the places they have visited so far, Alaska is a clear favorite.
“We can’t wait to get back to Alaska, that was an awesome trip."