Carol Stream police sergeant suspended for 21 days

A veteran Carol Stream police sergeant has been suspended without pay for 21 days after an internal investigation revealed he broke unspecified department rules in an incident involving an ex-girlfriend, authorities said Wednesday.

Sgt. Tom Miller also has been instructed not to have contact with the woman, Chief Kevin Orr said.

"He acknowledges that he made a mistake and that he has to be held accountable for it," Orr said. "I'm sure some people will say he should have been fired, but I looked at his work and disciplinary record."

However, Orr would not provide details of the incident or what department rules were broken. The Daily Herald has submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for a copy of the police report related to the incident that led to the suspension.

Miller has been with the force for 21 years and served as president of the police union earlier this decade. He has also earned multiple awards from the department, and was promoted to sergeant in October 2007.

Orr said he believes the 21-day suspension, which Miller did not contest, is a fair punishment. Miller waived his right to a hearing before the police and fire commission that comes with any suspension of more than five days. The suspension began Tuesday and continues through March 30.

"I also wanted to send a message that those kinds of things were not going to be tolerated and I thought 21 days was fair," he said.

Orr also said he had not had any previous complaints about Miller and that he was surprised when he heard the allegations.

Last week, Orr confirmed an investigation of a possible trespassing incident involving one of the department's sergeants. Officers responded at 10:37 p.m. Feb. 10 to a call of criminal trespass to a residence. While en route, the responding officers were told Miller was involved.

Miller left before the officers arrived and no charges were filed. However, Orr continued the investigation to see if Miller had violated department rules.

He was placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation, which took a little less than a month.