Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Michael McEllen was killed in an automobile crash while responding to an intruder call at 11 p.m. His patrol car hydroplaned on a rain-slicked Route 17, causing it to strike a light pole. His vehicle was found at 5:44 a.m. Patrolman McEllen was a United States Vietnam Army veteran who had served with the Paramus Police Department for 3.5 years and previously served with the Ramsey Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two children, mother, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-9AD09698- 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
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman McEllen gave the Paramus Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Paramus community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Michael P. McEllen served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Michael P. McEllen is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NJ, 258 of 646 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.9% of this state's fallen. That is 8.9 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Paramus Police Dept., 3 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael P. McEllen's cause is highlighted.
How Michael P. McEllen Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Michael P. McEllen is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Paramus Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
