Michael J. Mills
Auxiliary Officer

Michael J. Mills

Reno Police Department — Reno, NV
Felonious
End of Watch January 18, 1969
Age 24
Tour of Duty 5 mo
The Vigil Panel 105 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Auxiliary Officer Michael Mills was struck and killed by a drunk driver while he and his partner assisted a disabled motorist on North Virginia Street. After striking Officer Mills, the suspect fled the scene but crashed into a nearby shed, fled on foot, and was arrested two hours later. The man was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving, and felony hit-and-run. Officer Mills' partner and the motorist they were helping were also struck and seriously injured. Both recovered but the man they were helping lost a leg. The 33-year-old suspect was convicted of drunk driving, hit-and-run, and involuntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to 6 years. Auxiliary Officer Mills had served with the Reno Police Department for only five months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, two brothers, and mother.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Auxiliary Officer Mills served with the Reno Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Reno community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Auxiliary Officer Mills.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Reno, Washoe County, NV
Platform Identity rpd.washoe.nv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 18, 1969
Tour of Duty 5 mo
Age 24
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Michael is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1969, 124 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 40th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Michael was 24. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Michael had served 0.4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Reno Police Department has 12 officers remembered here, Michael among them.

VI

Where

Auxiliary Officer Michael J. Mills

Reno Police Department · End of Watch January 18, 1969

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 49-W

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