Police Chief Michael Gerald Schappa
(1951-2026)
Mike was born on September 6, 1951 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Harry 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 also met at Princeton his eventual wife, Kathy Armitage. 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 investigation 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.
His next 13 years were spent in Fishers, Indiana to be closer to children and grandchildren.
Chief Schappa passed away after a brief battle with multiple myeloma on June 24th, 2026 at the age of 74.
He was predeceased by his brothers, Lawrence E. Schappa and Richard W. Schappa. Chief Schappa is survived by his wife of 50 years, Kathryn Marie (Armitage) Schappa; children, Kara Elizabeth (Aaron) Clark and Matthew (Eryn) Michael Schappa; grandchildren: Eleanor, William, Charlotte, Jack, and Eloise; and twin brothers, Peter J. Schappa and Stephen H. Schappa.
A celebration of Chief Schappa’s life will take place on July 7, 2026 at Flanner Buchanan-Geist at 7855 Cork Road in Indianapolis. Friends and well-wishers are invited to a memorial gathering from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. followed by a short ceremony at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, his family asks that you donate to or support your local blood bank.
© 2026 – All rights reserved to LT Stephen R. Kramer RET and the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum