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Peggy Miller, mother of Trooper Joshua Miller, is escorted into Pittston Area High School by State Police Capt. James Murtin as they pass the Friends of the Forgotten honor guard for her son’s viewing Thursday afternoon. Friends of the Forgotten honors military and law enforcement personnel.
S. John Wilkin/The Times Leader
Pennsylvania State troopers stand guard during Trooper Joshua Miller’s viewing at Pittston Area High School Thursday afternoon.
S. John Wilkin/The Times Leader
Miller
Wilkes-Barre City Police Capts. Robert Zavada, left, and Donald Crane enter Trooper Joshua Miller’s viewing on Thursday afternoon. Hundreds of police throughout the country paid tribute to the slain trooper.
S. John Wilkin/The Times Leader
YATESVILLE – He retired from the Pennsylvania State Police three years ago, yet David Miller knew he had to say goodbye to a man who made a tremendous impression on him and others who knew him.
David Miller served as Trooper Joshua Miller’s commander at the Bethlehem barracks. As the ex-commander exited Pittston Area High School on Thursday after attending the fallen hero’s public viewing, he recalled Joshua’s impeccable work ethic and called him the epitome of what a state trooper should be.
“He was always eager to help. He showed up for work early. He stayed late. He did anything you asked of him. This is a tragic loss for the department,” said Miller, who is not related to Joshua Miller.
With black snippets of cloth across their badges, the school lobby was a sea of blue as hundreds of law enforcement officials – including two Arkansas state troopers and two bus loads of Philadelphia officers – waited patiently to pay their respects to Miller and his family.
At one point the line stretched several hundred feet as mourners then made their way into the 1,100-seat auditorium.
Some officers exited the building biting their lips as they tried to hold back their tears.
For others the tears flowed freely down their faces. Some were visibly upset as they passed the table featuring Miller’s awards and citations from his service during the U.S. Marine Corps, Pennsylvania State Police and Tunkhannock Police Department.
A continuously playing video set up in the lobby chronicled Miller’s life from his childhood to his years as a father of three.
Described by those who knew him as a dedicated trooper and father, Miller, of Pittston Township, died Sunday in a shootout when he and other troopers were involved in a 40-mile chase through Northampton and Monroe counties after a man kidnapped his 9-year-old son.
Miller’s colleague, Trooper Robert Lombardo of Pittston, was injured in the shootout near Tobyhanna. Police rescued the child unharmed.
Miller was called a “class act” by Troop N Commander Capt. James Murtin. Miller adeptly trained young troopers in his capacity as a field training officer, Murtin said.
“If they all turn out to be the trooper he was, the Pennsylvania State Police is going to be in fine shape,” Murtin said.
While working as a police officer at the Tunkhannock Police Department from 1999 until September 2002, Miller became friends with Plains Township officer Dale Binker.
He was one of the hundreds of police officers to pass the red, white and blue flower arrangements and photos of Miller as he entered the school’s auditorium.
“It is a sad day when any police officer or trooper dies. He was truly dedicated to his profession. It was an honor to serve with him,” Binker said.
Correctional Officer Eugene Godlewski described Miller as a dedicated father to his three daughters and an avid outdoorsman who hunted white-tail deer and bears.
All law enforcement officers consider each other family, even though they might not know each other by name.
Representatives from police departments and state police units throughout the East Coast and as far away as Arkansas came to say thank you to Miller for his service.
“We lost a brother. We would have drove three days if need be,” Philadelphia police Sgt. Kenyatta Lee said.
The tragedy led two Arkansas state troopers to drive 18 hours from Little Rock to attend the viewing and funeral services.
“We feel the state police – regardless of where they are – are brothers. We try to pay respects to each department as they are our own,” Arkansas Trooper Brad Cartwright said as he stood with colleague Karl Herbst.
Some mourners came just to show their support for the family and give thanks to Miller for his heroic actions of working to keep the community a safer place for all.
Christine Mitten’s brother has been a Pennsylvania State Trooper for years. She teared up as she spoke of the need to honor all state troopers and their families.
“You always wonder what might happen, so I want to be here to support this trooper’s family. I know if something happened to him, they would be there to support my sister-in-law and niece,” said Mitten, of Kingston.
Miller who graduated from Pittston Area in 1992, joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1993 and Pennsylvania State Police in 2002.
Fellow Patriots classmate Bryan Steransky of West Pittston competed against Miller on the football field as kids while they played youth football.
He recalled his classmate as a normal, average child who was always very friendly as they walked the halls of Pittston Area.
“I was very proud of what he did for this country and for this state alone, Pennsylvania. He was a great guy. He was never rude to anybody. He was always straightforward,” Sternasky said. He was shocked to learn of his friend’s passing.
Miller didn’t just excel as a trooper, he also excelled in the Marine Corps, being named “Marine of the Month” in February 1995 and receiving the Navy Achievement Medal in March 1996 while stationed in Silverdale, Wash
After receiving an honorable discharge from the Corps he returned to Northeastern Pennsylvania and began working at the Monroe Correctional Facility. He took courses at Lackawanna County Junior College as he studied to pursue his dream of a career in law enforcement.
ON THE WEB
Memorial Fund
To see more photos from Trooper Miller’s viewing on Thursday, visit www.timesleader.com
A memorial fund has been established to benefit the family of Trooper Joshua D. Miller who lost his life in the line of duty on June 7, 2009. Anyone wishing to contribute may do so as follows:
Make donations payable to: “Josh Miller Memorial Fund”
Mail donations to: P & G Federal Credit Union
51 Warren Street Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania 18657
Attn: Paula Shoemaker