HASTINGS, Mich. – You may have seen photos of Hastings Police Department Sergeant Kris Miller floating around, of him playing basketball with local kids or chatting with residents while on duty. But it wasn’t just his actions on the job that earned Sgt. Miller our Hero of the Week honors.
After getting a nomination from a viewer, FOX 17 reached out to Hastings Police Chief Jeff Pratt. Chief Pratt informed us that not only has Sgt. Miller taken to the department’s concept of community policing perhaps better than anyone else, but Miller also started a cadet program within the department last year, an idea he had been wanting to implement for years.
In September of 2014, HPD launched the Cadet Program, enrolling 10 students eager to learn more about law enforcement. Along with Officer Josh Sensiba, Sergeant Miller mentored and taught these students all on his own dime and using his own time away from the job. Cadets met twice monthly, and performed a community outreach program once a month, during which they performed community service.
According to Chief Pratt, the program has been a huge success – garnering praise from parents and teachers of those who participated. The second round of the cadet program is already underway, and the department has increased its enrollment to 15.
This past year, Sgt. Miller and Officer Sensiba were honored as 2015 Volunteers of the Year by the Barry County United Way for their work with the cadets.
For all of his hard work and commitment to his job, Sergeant Kris Miller of the Hastings Police Department has earned himself our Hero of the Week honors. Congratulations to him, and keep up the great work!
