Based on a review of the city's existing records, the department believes Scally is the longest
serving police officer in its history, said police spokeswoman Amy Dotson. The state mandates retirement at age 65 for officers.
In the time he's been on the job, Scally has become a fixture in the community — a well-known face for citizens.
"Captain Scally was the epitome of old school community policing, like a classic beat cop. He knew everybody and everybody knew him. You couldn’t go anywhere without someone shouting his name from across the street or across the room. Mike loves people and it showed in how he approached the community," said former Peoria Police Chief Steve Settingsgaard, who headed the department from 2005 to 2014.