Gloucester Sheriff’s Office Capt. John Schick Jr. is leaving his post next month for a new position as the chief of police in Canyon City, Colorado.
Schick said his reason for leaving is twofold. “If I wanted to be a chief, I would have to go somewhere else, and I’ve always wanted to pursue a chief’s chair,” Schick said. “Also, my wife and I both love to hike and we especially like the mountains.”
Schick holds a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from St. Leo University and is a 2016 graduate of the FBI Academy. After applying for the chief’s position, Schick soon learned that he was one of four finalists for the job and he was a quick pick after his interview.
“I think the reason that I was successful with this agency (in Canyon City) is that everything that I talked about that impressed them was a direct influence of the Gloucester Sheriff’s Office, especially the experience that I had that came with the opportunity to serve as a captain.”
Schick was the first to receive a captain’s appointment when Gloucester Sheriff Darrell Warren restructured the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office in 2012. Four captains and a major ultimately comprised Warren’s command staff, and Schick’s command has been over uniform patrol and investigations.
“I’ve done everything in law enforcement, from crisis intervention to investigations to working with the tactical team. My professional perspective is pretty broad and I have experience in training other officers. I owe a lot to Darrell Warren for giving me that captain’s opportunity and for the experience that it has brought me.”
He said, being a “Navy baby,” he does not really have any hometown roots. His father’s last navy assignment was at the Naval Weapons Station in Yorktown, which led the family to settle in Gloucester.
Schick said he joined the GSO in 1991 and served about three and a half years before leaving it for the Newport News Police Department. “The grass is always greener,” Schick said, and he returned to the GSO after a short stint in the city.
Schick had reached the rank of sergeant before leaving the GSO and was soon promoted to lieutenant after he returned. He headed up the GSO investigative unit for several years before making a lateral move to lead a small team of school resource officers.
Schick was assigned to Gloucester High School where he and another officer provided security and served as role models. After a few years, he gave up the job of working with local youth to take the captain’s position.
Along the way, Schick said he has also witnessed first hand the evolution of the GSO’s tactical team which has advanced from serving warrants to operating in high risk situations.
Another thing that Schick has been involved with that has also had a big effect on the GSO is the agency’s annual Shop with a Cop (SWAC) program. Schick heads up SWAC, which works year round to raise funds to help provide Christmas gifts for needy families in the community.
“The amount of children, 120 or 130 kids, and the amount of money we raise and the volunteers we involve with it make SWAC one of the biggest programs of its kind in the area. It has built some great partnerships,” he said. “It’s been good for the kids and their families and for us and our volunteers.
“It’s also helped to change our perspective,” Schick continued. “I think it helped us find a balance between efficient law and order and effective community policing. A lot of things they are talking about now in criminal justice reform, we’re already doing.”
When asked about the most interesting case he has been involved with, Schick cites a double homicide that occurred in the county in December 2017. A man fatally shot two women in their residence while the young daughter of one of the victim’s was also in the home. The suspect, Kenneth Miller, ultimately received an 85-year sentence on convictions of murder and robbery.
“Just the response, of us coming together to get the suspect identified and into custody so quickly,” Schick recalled. “And SWAC was able to be there for the daughter. That was a kind of pinnacle moment for me, the law and order aspect and the overwhelming support from the community for that little girl.”
Most recently, Schick began teaching a criminal justice class at GHS. “It’s been nice to hear the students’ perspectives and it’s a good recruitment opportunity,” he said of the class that began last fall and resumed again last month. “Fortunately, I like virtual learning so teaching online is pretty easy for me.”
When Schick leaves next month, GSO investigator Michael Rice will take his place teaching the GHS class. Also, GSO investigator Steve Perry will take over the SWAC program and GSO chief investigator Jamie Sharp will be promoted to captain and take Schick’s place on Warren’s command staff.
“Being able to fill the bench, having these people trained and ready to take over, I know everything that I’ve done will still go on down the road, and that’s a good feeling to leave with,” Schick said.
With his wife now retired and their two children grown and out on their own, Schick is ready to leave for his new role as police chief. “I will miss the relationships,” he said. “This community, the closeness here. Gloucester is a phenomenal community, so welcoming and supportive, and the folks at the Gloucester Sheriff’s Office, they’ve been family for 30 years. Eve and I both are certainly going to miss those relationships.”