HANOVER - Police Chief Nicholas Giaccone is recovering from a stroke he suffered Friday.

"A rapid response by New London Fire Department and a very successful early intervention by DHMC staff have resulted in an excellent prognosis for Chief Giaccone," the department said in a news release.

Giaccone was transferred Wednesday from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon to the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston.

Capt. Francis Moran is serving as acting police chief.

Giaccone, 65, has been police chief since 1994 and with the department for 40 years, Moran said.

It's too soon to know if Giaccone will be able to return to duty, Moran said, but "his will is to do that. It depends on his recovery."

It is also what his department hopes for, he said.

"He's a beloved chief. He's a friend. We're all rallying to run the department in his absence and we're all hoping he makes a full recovery," Moran said.

mpierce@unionleader.com