Suicide of police veteran stuns Radnor

Radnor Township staff and officials were in shock Wednesday after police said a popular officer died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after going off duty Tuesday night.

Officer Robert "John" Miller, 34, a nine-year veteran of the department and a married father of two sons, was found in the township building's parking lot, 301 Iven Ave., about 6:30 p.m., police said.

"He was truly one of my finer officers," Police Superintendent William Colarulo said.. "I never saw this coming."

Miller, a decorated officer who lived in Upper Darby, was assigned to the traffic-safety unit a couple of months ago, Colarulo said. He said the department was investigating the circumstances of Miller's death.

"He was liked by 100 percent of the department," Colarulo said, adding that Miller was the epitome of what a police officer should be.

"He was a good friend to everybody," Colarulo said.

The department has about 40 officers.

On Wednesday afternoon, a procession of police cars escorted Miller's body to a funeral home from Paoli Hospital, where he had been taken, past the township building, where co-workers waited outside to pay their respects.

Miller was a donor to the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation, Colarulo said.

"It is a tragic loss of a wonderful person," Colarulo said.

Township Manager Robert A. Zienkowski said he was just leaving work Tuesday when he heard a police siren, saw a patrol car pull abruptly into the parking lot, and watched as officers raced from inside the municipal building toward a pickup truck.

"They couldn't believe what they had seen," Zienkowski said.

Within seconds, the officers went into "full mode" tending to Miller, requesting an ambulance, getting him to the hospital, and calling nearby departments to help cover the township, Zienkowski said.

"I can't be more proud of them," he said, adding that the entire township staff had rallied to help. "When things get tough, the staff just pulls together, and they just do it," he said.

Zienkowski said that every time he saw Miller, the officer made it a point to say hello and was always saying positive things about his department.

"He loved what he did," Zienkowski said.

Radnor received assistance from police departments including Haverford, Upper Darby, and Tredyffrin Townships and Darby and Yeadon Boroughs.

"The outpouring of support has been incredible," Colarulo said.

Radnor officers will resume regular patrols Thursday morning, he said.

Counselors from several departments, Delaware County, and the Fraternal Order of Police were brought to the township building Tuesday night and Wednesday for police and other employees.

"It is going to be a long few days for us," Zienkowski said.

In a statement, Radnor police asked the public to keep Miller and his family in thoughts and prayers.

"We are heartbroken for his family," Zienkowski said. His children are 2 and 5.

Funeral arrangements were pending.

Miller is the second officer in the region to take his own life in the last two weeks. On Aug. 27, Mark F. Wells, a Lower Providence officer, shot himself outside the township's municipal complex in Eagleville.

Last year, a Lower Merion police officer committed suicide in his car in Franklin D. Roosevelt Park.

Nationally, more police officers take their own lives than die in the line of duty, according to a 2013 journal article. The rate of police officer suicide is two to four times higher than that of the civilian population.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 and is staffed 24/7.

610-313-8111

@MariSchaefer