Former Mechanicsburg police officer dies in Champaign County crash

A longtime Mechanicsburg police officer and captain at the Tri-County Jail in Champaign County died earlier this week after deputies said a medical issue led to a car crash.

Michael Schipke, 56, of Beavercreek, died Monday. Schipke was involved in a single-car crash about 3:40 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, near the 5000 block of Ohio 4 in Union Twp., according to the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office.

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He was headed north on Ohio 4 when his 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 went off the right side of the road due to a medical condition, according to a deputy’s report, and struck several small trees along the road. Champaign County Sheriff Matt Melvin said paramedics arrived at the scene and transported him to the Springfield Regional Medical Center.

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Schipke had a long career in Mechanicsburg, where he started out as a police officer and worked his way up to captain over a roughly 15-year career, Mechanicsburg Police Chief John Alexander said. For the past few years, he has served as a captain at the Tri-County Jail in Mechanicsburg.

“He did everything while he was here,” Alexander said. “He was a very likeable guy.”

Schipke was born in Tagiura, Libya, and served in the United States Air Force as a communications specialist, according to his obituary.

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He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, VFW Post 8312, the Eintracht Club, the Liederkranz-Turner Club and president of the Eagle Creek Landing Association.

He is survived by his mother, Elaine Schipke; brother, Mark and his wife, Patricia Schipke; special friend, Kimber L. Ferryman; nieces, Mary Kathryn and Caroline Schipke; nephew, William C. Schipke, as well as numerous friends and coworkers. He was preceded in death by his father, Lt. Col. Donald C. Schipke and sister, Karen J. Schipke.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 Saturday, Nov. 18 at Newcomer Funeral Home, 3940 Kettering Blvd., in Kettering with a funeral service following at 11 a.m.

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