Longtime Lindenhurst officer dies

Lindenhurst police are mourning the loss of longtime colleague Ed Miller, who died Monday morning at his Barrington home.

Miller, 49, who had been on medical leave for the past year or so, succumbed to complications from a long illness.

Miller joined the department as a full-time officer in 1984. He earned a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law and became a practicing attorney. He remained on the force as a part-time officer beginning in 1987.

Despite his absence during the past year, Miller still had a locker at the department that was transformed into a makeshift memorial Monday.

"He was a very bright guy. Entertaining. A healthy sense of humor," said Chief Jack McKeever, who has served in that position the past 15 years. "He knew the right moment to laugh and help everybody. People loved him as a co-worker."

Miller received several commendations and awards during his 24-year tenure with the police department. He acted as in-house legal counsel, dispensing legal advice to individual officers, and did a lot of charity and pro bono work, McKeever said.

In recent years, Miller was a part-time patrol and bicycle officer. He had been diagnosed with the undisclosed illness three or four years ago. Some fellow officers spent time at his Barrington home over the weekend, McKeever said.

Miller was the father of two daughters, Kaleigh, 10, and Caroline, 7. Funeral arrangements are pending.