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Constable

Michael Donald Chihil

Newbury Township Police Department — Newbury, NH

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 1, 1972

Age 30

Tour of Duty 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 109 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Constable Michael Chihil was killed when his patrol car was struck head-on by a drunk driver as he responded to assist the Burton Police Department on a call. The collision occurred on Route 87 in front of St. Helen's Catholic Church. Constable Chihil was the town's part-time constable and police chief. He was a United States Air Force Vietnam veteran and had only been with the Newbury Township Police Department for six months. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, eight brothers, and two sisters. He is buried at the Newbury Center Cemetary in Geauga County, Ohio.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two daughters, eight brothers, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-A756F46F
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.
Constable Chihil served with the Newbury Township Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Newbury 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

Department Newbury Township Police Department

Location Newbury, NH

Platform Identity ntpd.merrimack.nh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 1, 1972

Tour of Duty 6 mo

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Not available

Military Service

Michael Donald Chihil served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Constable Michael Donald Chihil is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NH, 23 of 59 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 39% of this state's fallen. That is 15.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

Newbury Township Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

NH — Statewide

of 59 officers

39% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael Donald Chihil's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Michael Donald Chihil Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

0.5

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Not available

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Donald Chihil is highlighted in Jan.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael Donald Chihil was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518