Ryan Miller has resigned as a Chesterton Police officer, weeks after his felony arrest for allegedly assaulting a pregnant woman on New Year’s Eve.
Chesterton Police Chief Tim Richardson told the Police Commission on Thursday that Miller met with him on Feb. 4, which was when he turned in his resignation.
The Police Commission at its Jan. 8 meeting exercised its right under the Indiana Code not to pay Miller while his case was being adjudicated.
Miller, 32, was charged with two Level 5 felonies of domestic battery and strangulation, which accuse him of assaulting a pregnant woman at his Portage residence on New Year’s Eve. The woman was 25 weeks pregnant at the time.
Richardson had already placed Miller on paid leave in early December. The chief couldn’t reveal the reason, citing the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which restricts the release of personal information.
During his initial hearing in Porter Superior Court on Jan. 5, Miller revealed that he had been diagnosed with a mental health issue.
Miller pleaded not guilty to the charges and posted a $2,000 cash bond.
Judge Jeffrey Clymer of Porter Superior Court 2 has ordered that Miller have no contact with the female victim. The judge has since ordered that Miller be placed on electronic monitoring.
Clymer appointed Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter to serve as a special prosecutor in the case.
Richardson said some might not understand why the town couldn’t immediately remove an officer after they are charged with a crime.
Under the law, the department cannot remove a police officer until after a criminal case has been settled. The department also does its own investigation before taking action.
Chesterton will refer information about Miller to the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, which will conduct its own investigation after the criminal case is adjudicated. The academy has the power to revoke Miller’s certification as a police officer.
Miller had nine years of law enforcement experience, joining the Chesterton Police Department in 2019. He was promoted to corporal in December 2022 and had been assigned to work as an accident reconstruction specialist and field training officer.
Corporal Miller was honored in December along with Chesterton Police Officer Cole Foster and Porter Police Officer with Life Saving Awards for their first aid efforts in helping a man who sustained a severe laceration on his right forearm during a disturbance on Grant Avenue on June 4.
The Police Commission granted Richardson permission to use the emergency hiring process to replace Miller.
Richardson said he will seek the Chesterton Town Council’s final approval to hire at its next meeting. He said that he intends to hire an experienced officer from another department to fill the position.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
