Police Chief Michael Gerald Schappa (1951-2026)

Mike was born on September 6, 1951 in Wyoming Township, Kent County, Michigan to Henry W. and Josephine E (Malloy) Schappa. He moved to Cincinnati and attended Princeton High School, played football, took part in Debate, Chemistry Club, Golf, and Gymnastics, and graduated in 1969. He then attended the University of Cincinnati earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Education by 1977.

On November 18, 1973, the City of Sharonville added six men to their Police Department, including Mike, bolstering it to 20 officers. By 1981 Officer Schappa was assigned to the Detective Division. In 1983, he was promoted to Sergeant and then again Lieutenant in the same year. In 1989, Lieutenant Schapp was assigned as the Department’s Community Service Officer and in charge of juvenile investigations, crime prevention, and public relations.

On March 1, 1990, he was promoted to Chief of Police, filling the vacancy left by Chief William Nussman who had been Chief since 1971 and became the fourth Sharonville Police Chief in its 79-year history. Always innovative, four months later, on July 4, 1990, Chief Schappa introduced a Mounted Patrol. Later in 1990, he formed a task force that included officers from Butler, Clermont, and Hamilton Counties police agencies to investigate more than 100 house burglaries, including 20 in Sharonville. On August 23rd, he announced the arrest warrants for two men and a woman in Sharonville and Amelia and the recovery of more than $500,000 in stolen goods. An offshoot of that investigation led to a drug related $165,000 seizure from a safe in Plantation, Florida by the FBI. More than $126,000 was forfeited to the Sharonville Police Department.

In May 1992, Chief Schappa debuted a drug sniffing canine. He was elected President of the Hamilton County Association of Chiefs of Police in 1994. He established a Bicycle Patrol in 1997. In 1998, Chief Schappa served on the Legislative Committee of the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police. He established the Sharonville Citizens Police Academy in 1998. On September 4, 1992, Chief Schappa graduated from the 170th session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy. Chief Schappa also attended the National Crime Prevention Institute and the 4th Session of the Police Executive Leadership College. From 1993 through 2010, his department consecutively earned a prestigious American Automobile Association Safety Award. Chief Schappa retired on January 25, 2013 with 39 years of service, including almost 23 years as Chief.

Chief Schappa passed away after a brief battle with cancer on June 24th, 2026 at the age of 74.

We believe he is survived by his wife of 50 years, Kathryn Marie (Armitage) Schappa and children, Kara Elizabeth and Matthew Michael.

We will update this obituary when more information is received.

_{© 2026 – All rights reserved to LT Stephen R. Kramer RET and the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum}