EDWARDSVILLE — Edwardsville Police Chief Michael Fillback will retire Oct. 2, 2026, after 30 years with the department, and he expressed his sincere gratitude to the city staff, elected officials, and everyone who believed in him and supported him throughout his career.
“This decision has not come easily, as I have spent most of my life serving the Edwardsville community,” Fillback said. “My wife and I raised our children here, and we are proud to continue calling Edwardsville our home.”
Mayor Art Risavy announced Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, ending a law enforcement career spent entirely in the city.
Fillback has served as chief for the past five years. His tenure included the December 2021 tornado that killed six people at an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville before striking other areas of the city, a disaster that occurred during the coronavirus pandemic and five months after he became chief.
Fillback is an Alton native.
Mayor Risavy was very complimentary of the chief for his efforts and steady leadership in his career.
“I’m immensely grateful for Chief Fillback’s expertise and his calm, measured leadership during some trying moments for the City,” Risavy said. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with him for 15 years and know how this City has benefited from his time with the Police Department. We wish him a well-deserved retirement.”
Fillback began his career with the Edwardsville Police Department as an officer in August 1996. He was promoted to sergeant in 2002, lieutenant in 2013, and deputy chief in 2018 before being appointed chief in July 2021.
Fillback also served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff & Command.
During Fillback’s time as chief, the department experienced steady growth alongside growth and development in the city. He pursued advances in officer-worn safety equipment and standardized gear such as crisis care kits in vehicles, with officers typically the first to arrive at emergency scenes. The department also debuted a “situational awareness room” for use in major cases and emergency operations.
Fillback has also been a huge advocate for Illinois Special Olympics, leading the department’s fundraising for local athletes through events including the “Polar Plunge,” Law Enforcement Torch Run, and Tip-A-Cop.
He has prioritized collaboration with area departments and agencies and serves as president of the Southern Illinois Police Chiefs Association. Since 2018, he has served on the Madison County Child Advocacy Advisory Board, which provides intervention and support services to fight child abuse.
Fillback also continues to serve on the Southwestern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission Mobile Training Unit #14 Advisory Board, which helps provide professional development for law enforcement staff.
