MUSCATINE, Iowa – Two individuals whose leadership and compassion have significantly strengthened public safety in Muscatine were recognized Tuesday night as Assistant Chief Steve Snider and Co-Responder Amy Gold received the Muscatine Police Department (MPD) Medal of Merit during the Muscatine City Council meeting.
Police Chief Anthony Kies noted that the Medal of Merit is awarded for “excellent, unusual police accomplishments” demonstrated far beyond the requirements of normal duty.
“This award is presented for exceptional service where the employee has gone far above and beyond to contribute to a more effective and efficient police department,” Kies said.
Amy Gold: First Civilian Recipient
Gold, a mental-health professional and MPD co-responder, made department history as the first civilian to receive the award. Since helping launch the MPD co-responder program in 2022, she has been an essential resource for officers responding to calls involving individuals facing mental-health or addiction challenges.
Her impact was especially evident following the homicide at the Muscatine Hy-Vee on 2nd Avenue. On the day of the incident, Gold and colleague Alli proactively contacted every Hy-Vee and CBI employee affected by the trauma to check on their wellbeing and connect them with services. Gold remained on-site throughout the week, providing ongoing support to employees, customers, and the community.
“As the department lacks a formal civilian award, bestowing the Medal of Merit on Amy provides fitting recognition for her extraordinary and selfless actions,” Kies said. “She made our department shine in one of our most trying moments, and I am forever grateful for her impact.”
Assistant Chief Steve Snider: A Legacy of Innovation
Snider was honored for decades of leadership and the vision that helped modernize the MPD’s response to complex situations. He played a key role in establishing the Co-Responder Mental Health Program and building a successful partnership between MPD and the Robert Young Center, ensuring crisis responses are both effective and compassionate.
“This program has not only reduced our call-for-service time but provides the community with someone qualified to handle crisis situations with more than just handcuffs and jail,” Kies said.
During his 37-year career, Snider introduced multiple cornerstone programs and units, including:
- MPD’s first K-9 unit (1991)
- Muscatine County’s first SWAT/SRT team (2001), now the 33-member Muscatine Special Operations Response Team (MSORT) serving three counties
- ABLE (Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement) program (2020), which helped reduce internal complaints from 13–15 per year to just 2–3 annually
“Assistant Chief Snider, your vision and dedication have shaped the Muscatine Police Department into the exemplary agency it is today,” Kies said. “You leave a legacy of innovation that will continue to protect and serve our city for decades.”
Amy Gold Medal of Merit Citation
Steve Snider Medal of Merit Citation