ZELIENOPLE — Jim Miller has attended 728 meetings in the borough and Harmony, served under two mayors and has worked with 18 different borough council members, two solicitors, two borough managers and five labor attorneys.

A simpler number is 20. That's the number of years that Miller has been the borough police department's chief.

May 5 marked the anniversary.

“I'm not a guy who sits around too much, so things tend to go fast in terms of time,” he said of his achievement.

Council recently presented a service award to Miller for his two decades of dedication as chief.

“We thank you for your exceptional efforts,” council President Allen Bayer said as he presented Miller with the award.

Miller was born in Pittsburgh, but raised in North Fayette Township. He said he always had an interest in law enforcement.

One event that Miller said fueled his desire to become a police officer was when he was held at gunpoint by a man trying to rob the convenience store where Miller worked as a young man.

“I thought it was a joke at first,” he said. “Next thing I know he's pulling money out of the register and walking out the door.”

The robber told Miller not to call police until he left the area. Miller however called police as soon as the robber exited the store. After the robber was arrested, Miller identified him from a police lineup.

“From the description given, he was into drugs and he was convicted of armed robbery,” he said.

After graduating from high school, Miller went on to receive his associate degree in law enforcement and forensics from the Community College of Allegheny County.

He became a part-time officer for the North Fayette Township Police Department in 1977 at 20 years old, officially starting his career on the force. During his time there, he returned to college to earn his bachelor's degree in administration of justice from the University of Pittsburgh.

Miller then became a full-time officer in 1978 for the Northern Regional Police Department in Wexford. He also attended the FBI National Academy in 1987, one of the top law enforcement schools in the country.

He served in Wexford until 1992, when he became police chief for the Tyrone Police Department in Blair County. He left there in 1997 to become police chief for the Zelienople Police Department.

“It's a very nice place to work,” he said.

One benefit Miller said has helped with his time in the borough is the support of borough council and Mayor Tom Oliverio.

“He (Oliverio) came in one day and said, 'Hey, it looks like you know what you're doing. If you need help, let me know,'” Miller said of the mayor. “It's been that way ever since.”

“He is a great asset to the community,” said council member Mary Hess. “When he has a project, he works hard at it.”

“It's a well-oiled machine when you have the top dog working well with everyone else,” council Vice President Andrew Mathew said. “For him, it's not just for the paycheck.”

Police officers must serve at least 20 years in the borough before receiving retirement benefits, according to borough documents. However, Miller said the prospect of retirement has not crossed his mind.

This September marks Miller's 40th year in law enforcement. “I've never stopped,” he said.