PARSIPPANY — Retired Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Chief Michael Filippello, badge number 243, who led the department for 18 years, died peacefully on Thursday, October 8. He was 82.
Filippello joined the department as a patrol officer on April 3, 1972. He later served as a detective in the Investigative Division and rose through the ranks to Detective Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant, Patrol Captain and Deputy Chief. He was appointed Chief of Police on February 11, 1988, and retired in June 2006 after 34 years of service to the Parsippany community.
Filippello was known as a champion of modernization who led the department through a period of significant advancement. Under his direction, the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department in 1990 became the second municipal police department in New Jersey to earn accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).
He also created the department’s Emergency Response Team and was a passionate advocate for training. He focused on getting officers trained and believed in cross-training them across job functions, building a more capable and versatile department.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with retired Chief Filippello’s family, friends, and all who had the privilege of serving alongside him,” the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department said in a statement. “His leadership and legacy will not be forgotten.”
