Former Hamden Police Officer Battles Brain Tumor, Community Rallies

HAMDEN, CT — The community is rallying around a former Hamden police officer who is recovering from surgery for a brain tumor.

The Hamden Police Department shared a fundraising campaign that has been launched for retired officer Michael Cirillo.

“Mike is a former Hamden Police Officer who was diagnosed with a grade 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme,” the police department wrote in a post on Facebook. “He recently had surgery and is valiantly fighting this diagnosis. Please consider helping Mike, as he helped our town for many years!”

Cirillo started his career in 1998 with the Milford Police Department before transferring to Hamden in 2002. While in Hamden, he spent time with an FBI Taskforce and eventually achieved the rank of sergeant, according to a post on the FundtheFirst fundraising website.

Cirillo retired from the Hamden Police Department in 2019 after 21 years in law enforcement.

He was diagnosed with a brain tumor (Astrocytoma Grade 3) on Sept. 1, 2021, and had his first brain surgery on Sept. 30, 2021, according to the FundtheFirst page.

“In December of 2022 Michael was given the news that the tumor had returned and his diagnosis was changed to a grade 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme,” the post reads. “Michael had a second brain surgery on 1/4/23 and after the surgery now has limited use of the left side of his body.”

More than $27,000 has been raised as of Friday afternoon.

For more information, visit the fundraising page at FundtheFirst here.