A Eupora Police Department officer arrested last week on a domestic violence charge is no longer employed with the city.
Phillip Miller had worked as a full-time certified police officer with the EPD for nine months. Sgt. Brandon Chaille of the Webster County Sheriff’s Department filed an affidavit against him on June 27 charging Miller with domestic violence-simple assault.
The affidavit alleges Miller punched his girlfriend in her face with a closed fist on June 26 at 150 W. Gould in Eupora. The Justice Court document does not indicate that Miller was on duty at the time.
Sheriff David Gore booked him into the county jail about 5 p.m. June 27 on the misdemeanor charge. Miller, 47, was released on a $2,000 surety bond the next evening and was scheduled to appear in Justice Court on Thursday, July 6.
Last week, following Miller’s arrest, Police Chief Lawrence Caradine said the officer was on administrative leave without pay. Gore said the sheriff’s office had turned the case over to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to ensure there was no conflict of interest.
The Eupora Board of Aldermen went into executive session on Monday, July 3, for the purpose of personnel to consider the rehiring of city employees. This matter is taken up annually during the regular July meeting.
After coming back into open session nearly two hours later, the board voted 5-0 to rehire all city employees except three — one being Miller. The other two were Street Department worker Don Miller and part-time police officer Marcus Rodriquez.
Following an executive session on June 19, the board voted to accept the resignation of another full-time police officer effective immediately and to advertise the position vacancy for two weeks.
