Steven Carlson, 58, chief of Hingham Police Dept.

In 25 years, Steven Carlson rose from patrolman to chief of the Hingham Police Department, and along the way he responded to fatal motor vehicle accidents and implored town selectmen to fund additional officers.

"You would have never found a chief more dedicated than he was to his officers," said Lieutenant James Taylor, who worked with Chief Carlson for about 27 years.

Chief Carlson died yesterday after a brief, undisclosed illness. He was 58. The town's deputy chief, Taylor Mills, will serve as acting chief until a replacement is named.

Chief Carlson spent most of his life in Hingham and after high school, joined the US Army, in which he served as a platoon leader in Vietnam and obtained the rank of first lieutenant.

According to the Hingham Police Department's website, he flew on dozens of volunteer combat air missions and was highly decorated.

Chief Carlson joined the Police Department in 1975 and was promoted to captain in 1996. In 2000, he succeeded Chief Joachim-Ingo Borowski, who had held the position for 18 years.

Chief Carlson recently earned a master's degree in criminal justice from Anna Maria College.

He leaves his wife, Sandra, two sons, and two grandchildren.