Indiana Township police chief remembered as 'excellent leader'

Indiana Township residents are mourning the loss of the township’s police chief.

Timothy Michael died Monday afternoon, May 16, 2022 in a hospital, according to a statement on the township’s website. Michael was 57.

He served in the police department for 28 years. He was promoted from patrolman to sergeant in 2002 and was named chief in 2019.

Formerly of Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood, Michael lived in the township he protected.

Michael was surrounded by family when he died, according to a notice posted on the township’s website, indianatownship.com.

“All of us are kind of reeling from it right now,” Mayor Al Kaan said Monday evening. “He was ill, and he was in the hospital and he passed away.”

Kaan said he knew Michael since 2010.

“He was an excellent leader,” Kaan said. “He was with us for 28 years and he just did a fine job. He was someone that everybody respected. It’s going to be very hard to replace him. He was an excellent chief, and it’s really sad to see him go at this early age. It’s way too young.”

The township has 13 officers including the chief, according to a listing of officers on the township’s website.

Fox Chapel Police Chief Michael Stevens made the announcement of Michael’s death at Monday night’s borough council meeting.

He and other borough officials offered condolences to Michael’s family and the township.

Stevens, who has worked in Fox Chapel for 33 years, said he knew Michael through his career.

The pair worked together as part of mutual aid.

“He was a fantastic police officer, great leader (and) very caring for the officers that worked underneath him,” Stevens said. “He’s going to be sorely missed by his officers and all the officers surrounding us. We all work very closely together like a family.

“Neighboring departments always work together. We back each other up. Any time they have a call and need assistance we’re always backing them up.”

Indiana Township Police Lt. Steven Colucci worked with Michael since 1996.

“Me and him worked very closely together through my whole career,” Colucci said Tuesday. “We were both in investigations, so we did a lot of stuff together all the time.”

Among the lessons learned during that time was to be hard working and treat everyone with respect.

The lieutenant called the chief a great asset to the community and its residents.

“He was a great coworker and a great friend to everyone within the department,” Colucci said. “He was a great husband and father to his family.”

Michael is survived by his wife, Cathy Michael; two children, Paige and Riley Michael; and two sisters, Shana Michael and Kelly Filipponi. He is the son of the late Homer and Johanna Michael.

Visitation is scheduled for 4-8 p.m. Thursday and 2-8 p.m. Fridayat Thomas J. Gmiter Funeral Home, 2323 E. Carson St.

A service will take place at the funeral home 10 a.m. Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rosedale Sportsmen Association, P.O. Box 172, Cheswick, PA 15024.