Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Agent Mike Gillis died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Agent Gillis was an Alabama Army National Guard veteran who served with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency for 30 years and also served with the Samson Volunteer Fire Department.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Special Agent Michael L. Gillis died on January 23, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 59.
He is one of 884 officers honored here, and one of 2 at Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, granddaughter, and mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-88B137D4- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Special Agent Gillis gave the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency 30 years.
Thank you for your service to the Montgomery community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Gillis.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Michael L. Gillis served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Special Agent Michael L. Gillis is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In AL, 23 of 643 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 3.6% of this state's fallen. That is 5.5 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.
At Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, 2 of 2 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael L. Gillis's cause is highlighted.
How Michael L. Gillis Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Michael L. Gillis is highlighted in Jan.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Alabama Law Enforcement Agency are honored on badge.nw.
