We are saddened to announce that NIOA Past President Michael “Mike” Tellef, 67, of Mesa, passed away on Sunday, July 25, 2021 in Tempe, Arizona. Tellef served on the NIOA Board of Directors as Vice-President, President and Immediate Past President from 2005-2008.
Michael (Mike) James Tellef was born Feb 15, 1954 in Phoenix, Arizona to Robert and Ann (Staff) Tellef. A lifelong Arizona native, he was proud of his home.
His tenure with the City of Peoria began with the Peoria Police Department from October 24, 1977 to February 20, 1998 when he retired as a Sergeant. From February 23, 1998 to October 21, 2005 he worked for the Peoria Fire Department where he created and implemented their community and media relations programs.
On October 24, 2005 he returned to the Peoria Police Department as their PIO handling media and marketing. Mike was also certified in FEMA Basic as well as Advanced PIO and was one of the instructors of the FEMA Basic PIO Course in Arizona. Mike was part of a team of 12 PIOs from all levels of government from throughout the United States that worked with FEMA on upgrading the Basic PIO course and as a result two new courses were created. In February of 2008 he began handling media relations for the Peoria Fire Department in addition to the Police Department.
He was a Past President of the Safe Kids Maricopa County. He also served on the advisory council for the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona. On August 3, 2010 he was presented the Linda S. Kirby WATER Award by the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona for dedication and effort in promoting water safety. He has presented all over the country on media relations and crisis communications in places such as Delaware, FEMA EMI in Maryland and San Antonio.
In 2018, he sent a Facebook message to his high school sweetheart, Melissa Archer. She responded, and they ended up talking for hours. A new/old connection, and it was like no time had passed. They fell in love and got engaged. Covid threw off their plans for marriage, but they still lived happily together for a while.
Mike was known as Officer Friendly, as someone you could rely on, and was the nicest person ever in the world. That’s a fact. He cared about everyone he met, and is survived by a whole host of friends he cared about. His faith was also very important to him.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Bob and David Tellef and survived by his fiancée, Melissa Archer and (step)daughter Lisa Becker, brother Claude and sister-in-law Barbara, sons Adam and Chris and daughter-in-law Amber, as well as six grandchildren.
His service will be held on August 24th at 11am at Christ’s Church of the Valley, 7007 W Happy Valley Road in Peoria, AZ. There will be a celebration after at a venue TBA. Tempe Mortuary is entrusted with the arrangements. A GoFundMe account that was established to help with Mike’s medical expenses will now also assist the family with his funeral costs.
The NIOA Board of Directors, Past President’s Council, and all our members wish to extend our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the Tellef family, his fiancée and his many friends.
Lisa McNeal
Executive Director
On behalf of the NIOA Board of Directors
NIOA Past Presidents Council
& Region 9 Director Steve Berry