Chief Miller recognized upon Penn College Police retirement

Chris E. Miller, retiring as Penn College Police chief, received official acknowledgement from grateful state lawmakers during a reception in the Thompson Professional Development Center on Wednesday afternoon.

Legislative citations were presented by Sen. Gene Yaw, R-23rd, who also chairs the college's board of directors, and by Rep. Michael A. Stender Jr., R-108th, in whose district Miller resides. Also in attendance were Reps. Jamie L. Flick, R-83rd, and Joe Hamm, R-84th.

The brief presentations came amid a throng of well-wishers from the campus community, who filled the PDC to share memories from the chief's four-decade career in law enforcement – split evenly between Montoursville Borough and the college.

“Chief Miller has been an institution at Penn College for many years,” Yaw said. “His dedication to the safety and security of the college, its faculty and its students is unmatched, and he will be greatly missed. I commend Chief Miller on his many contributions to the college and wish him well in his next chapter.”

Miller began his duties as chief on Feb. 25, 2002. His role was expanded to director of campus safety in 2013, focused on preparing plans, guidelines, and training for disasters and crisis situations.

“Chris Miller served with distinction as Penn College’s police chief and director of campus safety for more than two decades,” President Michael J. Reed said. “In addition to overseeing the police department so capably, he was fully committed to planning initiatives that served to ensure the college is always ready to respond to potential threats or crises. He worked diligently to strengthen the police department’s relationships with the campus community and with other law enforcement agencies. Chief Miller was an exceptional ambassador for the college, and we wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Miller is a 2023 recipient of the college's Distinguished Staff Award, which recognizes employees who demonstrate superior job performance and outstanding service.

His prior service as chief for the Montoursville Borough Police Department included July 17, 1996, when 16 Montoursville Area High School students and five chaperones were killed in the crash of TWA Flight 800. He also was employed as a dispatcher for the Lycoming County Department of Emergency Services from 1987-89.

A Lycoming County native, Miller is a 1979 graduate of Montoursville Area High School. He attended the former Williamsport Area Community College before pursuing a career in law enforcement, and is a 1982 graduate of the Pennsylvania State Police Academy.