Chief William P. Miller

Chief William P. Miller, 61

Troy Troy Police Department Chief William P. Miller, 61, died Wednesday at his residence after a three year illness.

Born in Troy, he was son of the late Carl Miller Sr. and Mary Barnes Miller and husband of Shirley A. Giuliano Miller. He was a lifelong resident of Troy and a 1958 graduate of Catholic Central High School.

Chief Miller began his exemplary career with the Troy Police Department on May 28, 1966. After serving as a patrol officer for 6 years, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on June 17, 1972. As a newly- appointed sergeant he worked in the Patrol Division in charge of a squad of patrol officers. He later became a member of the then new Special Operations Section, a narcotics investigation unit.

On August 6, 1979, Chief Miller was promoted to the rank of Captain. As a captain, Chief Miller worked in both the Patrol and the Professional Standards Division.

He served in the capacity of Captain until the untimely death of his predecessor, Chief John Givney, in 1983. On July 18, 1983, he was promoted to Chief of Police.

During his career, Chief Miller has completed numerous advanced police training courses offered by the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, the New York State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. In June 15, 1984. Chief Miller graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He was a member of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police, FBI National Academy Associates and was a lifetime member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

During his lengthy tenure as chief. Chief Miller is most credited with organizing the Community Policing Unit, the Emergency Response Team, the Troy Police K-9 Unit, the computerization of the department's records management system and the department's recent achievement of earning New York State Accreditation. Additionally, he is a founding member of the NYS Zone 5 Police Training Academy Advisory Board. More importantly, Chief Miller was known for his uncompromising sense of fairness and a deep commitment to City of Troy and the men and women of the Troy Police Department. He was well-respected and will be sorely missed.

He was also a member of the school board of CCHS, the board of Rensselaer County ARC, GRUMPS retired police officers, a communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Troy and a US Army veteran.

Survivors in addition to his wife include a daughter, Heidi Wittchen (Scott) of Mechanicville; two sons, Kevin McClune (Debbie) of Orlando, FL and Kyle Miller of Boston, MA; a sister, Mary Jane Brehm of Bethlehem, PA; six grandchildren, Casey and Kip Wittchen of Mechanicville, Savina McClune of Latham and Austin McClune of Orlando, Fl and Ryan and Darren Miller of Poestenkill; his father and mother-in-law, Francis and Shirley Giuliano of Wynantskill and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, William Paul Miller Jr. and a brother, Carl Miller Jr.

Funeral service will be held Saturday at 9:30am from Sacred Heart Church in Troy where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Relatives and friends may call at the Bryce Funeral Home Inc. corner of Pawling at Maple Avenues in Troy on Friday from 4-8pm. Interment St. Mary's Cemetery in Troy.

Contributions may be made in memory of Chief Miller to the The Institute for Vascular Health and Disease at Albany Medical Center 47 New Scotland Ave. Mail Code 157 Albany, NY 12208 or the American Cancer Society 260 Osborne Road Loudonville, NY 12211.

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