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]

XLFD, Maybe he was someone you could have used or been proud of at one time. Now your being biased, your only seeing the Dan miller you choose to see. The old one before 2008, or 2003. Its just getting to confusing.

What happened to your request for him to "Refuticate" about the "Improper Egress" of my daughters bedroom. which he overlooked for at least 2 years, while frequenting there.

[XLFD]

He hasn't refuted that egress issue if it existed, tis true, but the point was moot anyway once the daughter was out of the basement. 

The Dan Miller I see is the one crafted from four different FOIA requests I've received regarding the issue, and the other public records available.  I am trying to look at Dan Miller from your standpoint Phil, but all I am getting is another picture.  And I'm thinking it's alot like your ex-wife's viewpoint. 

[Phil Convissor]

XLFD, My daughter was only moved out of the basement after I caught wind of it and confronted the Deputy fire chief thru his lover about the info I was given by the deputy fire chiefs brother Joe the fire chief of wayland in April of 2011 about the federal law about proper Egress. And this was after The deputy fire chief had been frequenting My daughters residence for at least 2 years. Are you asking for proof of this incident? Is that what you are really asking for? Please specify.

[Phil Convissor]

XWPD, If that last comment came from Dan Miller "Safe and happy holiday" coming from you that could be "construed" as a threat. 

Alls i want from you is, "refutication" on the things I'm saying you "overlooked" or did as a "Deputy Fire Chief"/"Police Chief".

"Interesting" don't cut it man.

You might as well say "Whatever".

I don't need your "BS", as you and your backers put it so Elequently.  

"Own up man"

[XWPD]

Hey Phil how bout this then.........Have a good Day. Make it what you want dude. Bye bye oh BTW I'm thinking you Judy have a dictionary close by because you could never know all those words. Ok then. Whatever.

[XWPD]

Hey Phil why don't you ask your Son to tell you the truth about the 3 exits in the bedrooms in the basement or will he purger himself like he did in a pending court case involving someone known to you.

I'm sure if the SOM daycare licensing div licensed the facility, it was safe for anybody other than you. I'm just saying. Whatever.

[Phil Convissor]

XWPD finally thanx , look for the incoming pics and other info coming soon to a public forum just for you

[Phil Convissor]

XWPD Purger your self DA, That is the picture of the window of my daughters basement bedroom. Thats one of her exits. where are the other 3? Need more? Keep opening that pie hole of yours.

[Sweater Cows!]

Holy Ship! If I found out my kid was living in a basement with a blocked up escape route I would be really pissed off. Lucky there was never a house fire, what kind of mother would allow a child to live in a room with a window like that!

Phil, stop posting your rough drafts, they are--well 'rough'- write your post then come back after a couple hours and read, edit and re-read and re-edit again to correct syntax, grammar, sentence  and paragraph structure etc...It will make your posts much better for everyone reading as sometimes you (however unintentionally and thru quick writing) contradict yourself from sentence to sentence. You need to have more thought out   edited posts sometimes.

[XLFD]

But were these windows blocked up when the daughter was living there?  Phil does go on to say this house is now vacant, and this would be a typical security measure. 

Good advice to heed, Phil, when posting.  Now that you are the titular spokesman for the City of Wayland and their Dan Miller Policy, you should at least do a once-over.

[Phil Convissor]

XWPD, XLFD, Dearest Cisco, Etc. for starters, XWPD let it go wherever you choose ,but you might as well take these other two things with you also. XLFD, come to find out from my son, Lexis room had NO windows to the outside, zero, so the 8"x24" you looked at in previous picture was not the bedroom she was even in. I hope that answers that question. Dearest Cisco, you can be sure if my daughter is seein=g any of this it is not because of me, kinda like those trumped up PPOs. They show her all, Lex would say "They showed me because they are honest" "They tell the truth" Chief is always right" 

Well right this.

[Phil Convissor]

And this,