Police Chief James Collins joined the Hanover Police Department in 1964 as a patrolman and was later promoted to Chief in 1982. He was a native of Enfield, NH and lived there all his life with the exception of the years he served in the military. He was a graduate of Enfield, NH High School and received Police Command training at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass.
On January 30, 1987, Chief Collins died in the line of duty while assisting with traffic at the scene of a motor vehicle accident on Interstate 89. He had stopped to assist with the scene while returning to Hanover from Concord during which time he suffered a fatal heart attack. He was 56 years old.