By Kevin Shea, Ryan Tracy and Lisa Rich
The Times of Trenton (New Jersey)
HAMILTON, N.J. — George Zimmer Jr., who was the police department’s lone deputy chief until last week, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in the basement of his home yesterday morning, officials said.
Zimmer was 55 years old and served as a township police officer for 31 years. He is survived by a wife and two teenage children.
The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office announced Zimmer’s death yesterday evening, saying it was a suicide, but news of the tragedy rocketed through Mercer County public safety and political circles early yesterday.
His was the second death to jolt the Hamilton government this week. Kevin “KC” Meara, 24, son of Councilman Kevin Meara, was found dead in his home on Monday.
Zimmer was a decorated police officer who worked in several positions and commands, and was well-known in the community for coaching youth sports. His father, George Zimmer Sr., retired as Hamilton police chief in 1990 after 43 years as a township police officer.
But for the last several months Zimmer made headlines because his position was targeted for elimination by the township administration in a budget crunch.
Early last week, the township officially demoted him to captain.
No officials would discuss if the demotion and the possible elimination of his post contributed to him taking his life, but it was on the minds of many township police officers.
Despite that, numerous people, from beat cops to high-ranking officials, described Zimmer’s death as inexplicable and sad, and he was mourned as a dedicated manager.
“I am deeply saddened to be informed of the loss of Deputy Chief George Zimmer,” township Police Chief James Collins said in a statement. “George was an extremely dedicated police manager. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Hamilton PBA president Robert Diszler said Zimmer’s death stunned many officers and police employees who worked with him, and cast an uneasy and somber mood over police headquarters.
“We’re absolutely shocked and deeply saddened by the death of a fellow officer, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family, and with Deputy Chief Zimmer,” Diszler said.
Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo said, “The prayers of our entire community are with the Zimmer family during this very difficult time. George was a dedicated police officer who served our community for many years, and he will be deeply missed by all of those whose lives he touched.”
“Deputy Chief Zimmer was a well-respected member of the Mercer County law enforcement community as well as a good friend,” Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. said. “He was a true professional who served this community with honor and distinction for more than 30 years. He will be greatly missed.”
Former police chief Richard Taylor, who took over for Zimmer’s father as chief in 1990, said Zimmer was loyal to his oath as a police officer and he had “the utmost faith” in Zimmer when he gave him an assignment.
Reached yesterday at home, Zimmer family members said they were not ready to comment and requested that their privacy be respected. Hamilton police guarded Zimmer’s home on Red Cedar Avenue all day.
Zimmer was promoted from captain to deputy chief in 2002, about a month after Collins was promoted to chief. He was sworn in by then-mayor Glen Gilmore and had his family at his side, and proudly mentioned that his father was a deputy chief for two years.
But on June 23, Zimmer was demoted under the township administration’s cost-cutting “reduction in force” plan.
He was the only police officer among the 48 township workers targeted for layoffs or demotions and was on a layoff list released in early April. After being “bumped” to a captain’s post, he was not in danger of being laid off.
Zimmer also faced public criticism in May after the release of a report drafted by members of Bencivengo’s transition team last year.
The report, which claimed to be based on interviews with township police, credited Zimmer for being an “intelligent and experienced manager” but said he lacked leadership and had isolated himself from other police, including Collins.
Zimmer’s deputy chief post, which paid a salary of $137,807, was also the highest rank affected by a proposed reorganization of the police department recently debated before the township council.
Separate from the layoffs that had led to Zimmer’s demotion, the proposed reorganization would have permanently eliminated the deputy chief post.
Council members, however, appeared convinced two weeks ago that a deputy chief was necessary. “There should be a clear number two definition” in the police command structure, Councilman Tom Goodwin said last month before the body voted unanimously to amend the ordinance and allow for one deputy chief.
That amendment, however, may not have reversed Zimmer’s demotion.
The council may set the maximum for each police position, but it is up to the administration to choose whether to appoint anyone to fill the slots, former business administrator William Guhl told the council last month.
The council’s vote on the police ordinance was scheduled for last night, but the meeting was canceled “in respect for the two families” recently impacted by deaths, according to council President Dennis Pone.
“The last two days have been days like I’ve never known,” Pone said of the twin tragedies that have hit the township this week.
At an abbreviated “emergency” council meeting yesterday afternoon, four noticeably shaken council members, with Kevin Meara absent, postponed a public hearing on the police ordinance until July 15 while taking care of other essential business.
Councilwoman Kelly Yaede’s voice broke as she led the invocation at the start of the meeting. “We ask that you look after the Zimmer and Meara families ... please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”
Also expressing condolences to both the Meara and Zimmer families yesterday was Hamilton schools Superintendent Neil Bencivengo.
“This is a very sad day in our community,” Bencivengo said. “Both families have a rich tradition in our district. They are families of deep faith. All I can say is, speaking personally and for the district, our deepest sympathies and prayers are with them both.”
Copyright 2008 The Times of Trenton (New Jersey)