Wayland's Dan Miller: Small Town Hero

[XLFD]

Prologue

I recently asked the City of Wayland for the personnel records of Former Police Chief/Current Fire Deputy Chief Dan Miller.  In the 260 files I received, including about ten evaluations from Wayland City Managers (and there have been a few in the last ten years); including numerous training certificates; including letters from other agencies commenting on the work performance of Dan Miller; I was struck by one thing.  In all those pages there was not a negative complaint about Dan Miller. 

For those who might think that Dan's brother, the Fire Chief, might have edited or not disclosed the WFD records, I would warn you that such action is a serious violation of state law.  I invite anyone who has been on the WFD or in the know to dispute such claims to come forward. 

Furthermore, the police personnel file on Dan Miller, which accounts for about 190 of the records, had no such fraternal help to filter out any bad records.  In fact, if the City was considering keeping its course and retiring Dan Miller from the WPD, it may be well-advised to show me the dirtiest dirt on Miller.  But this did not happen.  In fact, they have left out any personnel record since 2008, which is odd, when you consider all the personnel decisions they have made within just the last year concerning Dan Miller. 

But the City's FOIA Coordinator has given no reason for doing so, and the City's Attorney, Kurt McCamman, has not gotten back with me since a few correspondences on Wednesday concerning this apparent omission, and whether legal action would be required to make Wayland comply with the FOIA.  One has to wonder why the City would delay the release of information past the statutory limit, and then give the public an incomplete data set.  But then when you look through these pages, you have to wonder why they would fire such a devoted public servant who has served Wayland since the 1970s as a policeman and/or a fireman.  I will cut the records down over 90% so as not to overstate the case, but you can get a full set if you send me a message. 

 

Dan Miller- Respected by His Bosses

 

One thing about the performance evaluations made by the City Managers of the time, was the fact that Dan Miller almost always scored at the highest level each time.  He was always ranked as above average.  The one I will display here is the 2002 evaluation by CM Michael Jager, who would one year later, for reasons unstated, be calling for the Chief's resignation. 

 

2002 Eval. p. 2    2002 Eval. p.3

 

The aftermath of that would lead to Jager's firing, and a shake-up at the City Council.  With the incomplete data available, I believe that was probably best for the community at that time.  This memorandum to the council from then interim CM Terry Hoffmeyer, the man who would fire Dan Miller again in 2012, vaguely describe the thought processes he used back then to heal the community, which the council approved.  Dan Miller got his job back, but with some odd conditions:

 

2003 Reinstatement, p.2

 

Trying to figure out what happened in 2003 from his personnel file should have been easy, but there is no sign of any disciplinary action, no sign of any other problems.  This is what was available, a separation agreement written by CM Jager in early July 2003:   SA p.1   SA p.2

With a follow-up from Jager, after he had lost his job, still without any declaration of why Chief Miller should sign the agreement, or even a date:   2003 Jager Goes   I sense that Jager tried to utilize the power he had over Miller because something Jager had done unethically/illegally had been caught by the Chief.  Evaluations since that time show the same quality of work being performed by Dan Miller as before, continued.

 

Dan Miller- Respected by his Boss' Bosses

 

The City Council of Wayland has done up two resolutions to commemorate actions performed by Dan Miller, and the Mayor has given him his own commendation.

Back in 1977, then patrolman Dan Miller, was the subject of Wayland Resolution 77-5  for saving the life of a two year old.  In 1986, the then-mayor praised the Chief for doing his job right 1986 Mayor Praise.  In 1990, a resolution was passed for his efforts in investigating a suspicious death that led to an arrest  1990 Resolution. 

 

Dan Miller- Praised by Other Agencies

 

Back in 1978, the Michigan State Police praised Patrolman Miller's work in resolving an issue involving a man with a gun who barricaded himself in and threatened harm to himself and others.  While off-duty, he helped for hours in the efforts.  In 1991, he once received special praise, and an award from the MSP 1991 Recognition.   The Prosecuting Attorney for the county, one year later and on a different case, sent him glowing praise.  Of course he received some praise from local schools for the extra time he devoted in bringing the police and fire trucks to local schools  School Praise

 

Dan Miller praised by those whose lives he impacted

 

What makes Dan Miller a small town hero, however, is how he is viewed by those he really serves, the people of Wayland and their families.  No doubt, some have grudges against him for doing his job, and for being someone who has such stature in the community.  Dan Miller's best written praise comes from 1978, in a letter to Wayland Chief Ernst:

  And the lack of any negative material in his personnel file, perhaps explains the following pictures that have recently been taken in Wayland around City Council meetings:

 

The City Council of Wayland is to meet this Monday.  You will see a groundswell of support for Chief Dan Miller, and no great love for the elected officials who continue to ignore the will and drive of the people of the city of Wayland, as they remain effectively mum on the topic, while their new City Manager, taking after the interim City manager, does the dirty work they don't have the political will to do on their own. 

Wayland City Council, show some backbone and explain/confess to the good people of Wayland why exactly Dan Miller is getting axed for forty years of exemplary service. 

 

 

[Phil Convissor]

Cisco, finally you got something I can comment on, lets see where they go with your last comment,are you trying to suggest my kids are involved in this somehow? Hello where have you been. I did not put me and mine in his termination, he did,

He was on me and mine like"stink on S---, now, I'm just repaying the favor.

[Fran Cisco]

Mr. Convissor, ALL of Michigan would not know you, your name, your children's names, your address, or your ex-wife's address had YOU not put it out there. THEREFORE, any involvement your children have are by YOUR doing. I would think if YOU had YOUR children's best interest in mind YOU would keep YOUR comments to yourself. I don't see her talking about you. And I DO NOT want to hear from you about her or your children anymore. I find your comments abusive and YOUR children will suffer because YOU CANNOT control yourself.

Now, crawl back in your miserable hole where you came from and lets adults fix what's wrong within the city of WAYLAND.

Afterall, the more you run your face the more I feel that the city of Wayland may need to remove you from ALL of their functions (via a PPO) as YOU may not be doing THEM any favors with your belligerency and lack of focus on topics. IN FACT, I believe XLFD might have a similar situation happen to him in regard to city hall blocking him from from city hall and the police station, WHICH means it CAN and DOES happen. So that sir is no threat, it's a fact based on prior knowledge and belief.

Friendly advice to you is that you focus on YOU and YOUR relationship with your children and let whatever else happens happen without your input. I'm sure your children could only benefit.

[XLFD]

The City of Ludington made a Workplace Safety Policy which can have anyone be banned from any public facility in Ludington by the City Manager, and there doesn't even have to be a reason to do so.  I am currently fighting this policy in court so that it can't be placed on anyone else (outside of any Banana Republic dictatorship) anywhere without severe consequences. 

This policy would be more likely to be placed on a Chief Miller supporter rather than Phil if Wayland had that version.  Nobody should be kept out of a public facility for no reason.  Not in Amerika.

[Phil Convissor]

cisco, a little heated there arn't you, woooo boy, time for a chill pill. If anyone has the right to be pissed of it's me so kma

[Fran Cisco]

Whatever. I'm done with you and your nonsense.

[Phil Convissor]

Mick Jager on SNL how cool is that. gotta go for now.

[Fran Cisco]

The city of Wayland needs a huge support base from the community and surrounding and maybe not so surrounding communities, along with an obvious pill for all those whom appear to be oblivious to whats going on right under their own noses at taxpayers expense.

WAYLAND CITY COUNCIL - I AM WATCHING YOU. I look forward to pointing out your every flaw.

I also look forward to hearing what excuse you're going to use to keep Mr. Miller off the payroll.

I propose a policy to the Wayland charter that prevents ONE CITY MANAGER WITH AN AXE TO GRIND, NOT be the ONLY determining factor when it comes to hiring or firing appointed officials such as the Chief of POLICE.

[Phil Convissor]

Cisco or anyone else who thinks I'm just FOS or how do yal say it "Muddying the waters" Look at line 5 of the infamous politically correct Mick lane. This is something else they deleted from their website. Why, if it doesn't matter?

XWPD, Dan Miller? Now that I caught your attention, can you answer me this? What was the deal with the video taping me with the city owned phone at a football game my daughter was cheer leading at. Remember Front row me walking by minding my own business, you standing up in my face! Video taping me! Why!  What was the deal man!

Were you attempting to build a case against me? Those events are called "extra curricular". Can you read? Our judgement gives me the right to be there, wether or not it is my parenting time or hers.

Why can't you guys get that thru your thick skulls. I guess the same reason you can't or you refuse to understand what a direct order from your boss means.

[Fran Cisco]

Mr. Convissor, grow the hell up and quit your crying. If you did nothing at that very moment that Mr. Miller supposedly did this, you do not my sympathies now. These issues we are trying to discuss is about a man and a career and a corrupt city government.

Quit wasting our time with your BS. Focus on what you have and quit obsessing over Mr. Miller. You obviously DO NOT have XWPD's attention since he doesn't waste his time responding to you. Go spend some quality time with your wife and children.

[XLFD]

Phil,

Could Dan Miller's actions have been that he was documenting the fact that you were very near the person who has had a PPO on you repeatedly?  I presume that Dan Miller was sitting by your daughter's mother at the time, and he may have thought you may try something.  If we further presume the worst, that your ex-wife is trying to alienate her children from you, don't you think she'd have told Dan Miller what you may be capable of, thereby alienating him from you?  

Even with all presumptions in your favor, there is nothing against the law for videotaping another person at a public event.  It happens all the time.  If he didn't leave his seat, follow you, or truly get in your face, you really should have no right to be annoyed. 

All those PPOs may mean little to you, but your ex-wife went through the trouble of getting them, and their legal significance should not be ignored.  Whatever her reason, she doesn't want you in her space, so can you not consider that you had been the one to get in their face to begin with at that sporting event?  It sure looks that way to me, an outsider.

 

[Phil Convissor]

Cisco, you guys are the ones guilty of "muddying the Waters" with all your stuff about the 'Good ole Boy" Dan miller of the past, I reiterate and will keep reiterating what the issue at hand is about now and what he did , and did not do to correct his mistake.

Be ordered by his boss to keep he city out of his personal business, or anything that could be perceived as personal business.

Then, agree with his boss to stay out of, and keep the city out of something personal, or something that could be perceived as personal.

Then at the last minute do a "follow up" against the direct order of his boss to a personal that he already agreed to let another dept. handle, which by the way the State police Post is directly across the st from his residence.

[XLFD]

Phil,

I will reiterate the opposite side.  Serving a PPO is not a follow up action to a complaint, and Dan Miller did not even serve the PPO.  Again a PPO is made by a petitioner,in this case your ex-wife, who gets either denied or approved by the judge.  If it is served without a hearing, you have the right to request a hearing concerning that PPO later, which depending on the circumstances, the judge will usually agree to. 

The court then needs to serve the paperwork.  They felt personal service was the best idea, and the court gave it to their usual process server in that area.  As he has done many many times before, he had a WPD officer serve the PPO.  This doesn't violate any local or state rules, or the demand of an ex-City manager. 

If something like this was a big problem for Dan Miller back in early 2011 to be considered to be put in his personnel file, why isn't it there?  Why is it being dredged up by an interim City Manager and yourself a year later as a problem, since neither of you apparently didn't start griping about it until recent?