Marble Falls officer remembered for leadership, sense of humor
A service for Marble Falls Police Officer Andrew E. Howe is 11 a.m. Thursday, May 2, at First Baptist Church of Marble Falls. Howe died April 26 in a motorcycle accident. Courtesy photo
EDITOR DANIEL CLIFTON
When Andrew Howe joined the Marble Falls Police Department in July 2017, it didn’t take long for the veteran officer to prove himself.
“He came in and, within a short amount of time, became one of these natural leaders,” Assistant Chief Glenn Hanson said. “He didn’t have rank, but he was very level-headed and had experience that it didn’t long for him to begin providing that leadership.”
Howe died April 26 in an early morning motorcycle accident on RR 1431 as he was driving to work from his home in Leander.
The 36-year-old leaves behind his wife, Lindsay, and two sons: 18-year-old Hunter and 15-year-old Hudson.
A service for Howe is 11 a.m. Thursday, May 2, at First Baptist Church, 901 La Ventana Drive in Marble Falls. Visitation is 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 1805 U.S. 281 North in Marble Falls.
A procession from the funeral home to the church will take place Thursday at about 8:45 a.m. prior to the service. A procession returning to Clements-Wilcox will follow the funeral.
When Howe arrived at the Marble Falls department, he had 10 years of law enforcement experience with the Richardson Police Department. That stood out to Marble Falls officials.
“What we saw in him was he brought experience and maturity. We have a lot of young officers, and he was someone who could serve as a mentor,” Hanson said. “We were very excited when he applied.”
Along with his leadership and experience, Howe distinguished himself with an easygoing attitude, one that could put people at ease. Fellow officers, department staff, and the community with whom he interacted also discovered his great sense of humor.
“He was easygoing, jovial, and just fun to be around,” Hanson added. “I think that made him very relatable in the community — approachable. You didn’t have to spend more than a few minutes with him to pick up on that.”
Since Howe’s death, the Marble Falls Police Department has received an outpouring of love and support from the community as well as other agencies and departments.
“Law enforcement and a lot of public safety and service departments share a different bond,” Hanson said. “It’s not just something felt in one department but across the entire profession.”
Law enforcement and emergency response organizations from across the area, the state, and beyond have sent condolences and messages of support to the Marble Falls Police Department. Several have volunteered to cover Marble Falls police shifts during this time.
“We’re still kind of in shock about it,” Hanson said. “Someone who has become a part of us, our family, is gone. That hurts. We’re going to love on each other and support each other. We’ll get through it together, but it still hurts.”
A GoFundMe account has been created for Howe’s two sons, who attend high school in Leander.