The death of Hanover Police Chief Kurt Schimke Tuesday shocked and saddened College administrators and town residents, who praised him as a dedicated worker and protector of the community.
Schimke died of a heart attack while playing pick-up basketball at the Marion Cross School in Norwich, Vt. He was 41.
Hanover Town Manager Cliff Vermilya appointed Detective Sergeant Nick Giaccone as acting police chief Tuesday night until a permanent successor is named.
Giaccone has been an officer for close to 20 years, Vermilya said.
Administrators at the College who had worked with Schimke only had strong words of commendation yesterday for the late police chief.
College Proctor Robert McEwen said, "Schimke was a very strong communicator."
"He cared about the community and he cared about the officers that worked for him," McEwen said. "He had a real connection with Dartmouth College, with getting involved and with the concerns of the students."
"He certainly was a wonderful person," McEwen added. "He was always very open to any dispute or problem that came up."
McEwen met with Schimke every week to talk about relations between the town and the College. The two would meet to talk about issues that concerned the town and the College, like alcohol use, sexual assault and how to prepare for major weekends at the College.
"Sometimes it would just be a general discussion about his trying to get me to the basketball court," McEwen said. "I used to play basketball, but I never got around to going out to play with him."
Schimke also met several times a term with Dean of the College Lee Pelton.
"We talked for instance about sexual assault and how reported instances should be handled," Pelton said. "We talked about alcohol use and how various polices of the College would be."
Pelton said he also met with Schimke on an "ad hoc" basis to discuss issues involving specific students and organizations.
"It was clear to me that he loved his job and that he took his job very seriously," Pelton said. "He took his role of police officer as an officer for the community, and he saw the College as part of the community."
Pelton said Dartmouth owes Schimke a debt for his dedicated service.
"The College is very lucky to have someone who was so forward thinking," he said. "I suspect part of the reason things seem so tranquil around here is that Kurt was on top of these issues and he worked with us."
Schimke's colleagues at the Town Hall also recalled a man who was very dedicated to his job.
"Kurt was a wonderful human being who was very concerned for people's feelings and people's safety," Hanover's Board of Selectman Chair Willy Black said. "He was gentle, soft-spoken, always a good listener and on the cutting edge of professionalism."
"He was always making things better," Black said. "He was a very caring, knowledgeable intelligent individual, who worked very hard to be an ideal representative to the community."
Vermilya said the death was sudden and unexpected.
"We are all in shock. Kurt had done such a wonderful job in Hanover, his loss will be profoundly felt by the entire department and all who came in contact with him. He was a very caring person and a police professional," Vermilya said.
"Our hearts go out to Barbara and his children," Vermilya said.
Hanover Police communications specialist Doug Hackett said even though the department is in shock, the daily operations must continue.
"Crime doesn't stop, problems don't stop," he said. "We have to go on functioning. It's not always easy when somebody sees the little black ribbon across your badge and asks you what's wrong. It hasn't really set in yet."
Schimke, who lived in Etna, suffered a heart attack while playing basketball at about 8:50 Tuesday night. He was taken by ambulance to the Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
He is survived by his wife Barbara and their two children, a first-grader and a seventh-grader. He was appointed Hanover's Police Chief in October 1987. He has been a police officer in New Hampshire for 22 years.
Schimke's calling hours will be this Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home on School St. His funeral will be Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Rollins Chapel.
Memorial contributions can be made to an educational trust fund for Schimke's two children in care of Gail Trottier at the Ledyard National Bank on Main St.
