Suburban Cop Resigns From Panel After Pulling Gun On Woman

NORTH RIVERSIDE, IL – A suburban Chicago police officer on leave for pulling a gun on a woman stepped down shortly after from a panel involved in the hiring of police officers.

Public records indicate Daniel Miller resigned "effective immediately" on May 7 as chairman of the Civil Service Commission in North Riverside.

That was 10 days after Miller, a police lieutenant in neighboring Forest Park, brandished a gun and pulled a female driver from her car in North Riverside, putting her in handcuffs.

Miller, who was off duty and wearing a shirt with Donald Trump's name, said he suspected she was involved in a hit-and-run crash. North Riverside police, though, concluded she was not. They did not cite either the woman or Miller.

The woman, Breanna Pantoja, who has spoken publicly about the matter, said Miller did not show a badge. He said he did.

Video documented part of the incident.

Earlier the same day, the Civil Service Commission met. The panel oversees the hiring, promotions and discipline of police officers and firefighters.

Shortly afterward, a few North Riverside residents called for Miller's ouster from the commission.

"I myself do not feel comfortable with someone that works for the village outwardly showing his bigotry, while on such a Commission for North Riverside," resident Carolyn Quaid said in an email to Mayor Joseph Mengoni. She was referring to Pantoja's Hispanic heritage.

Another resident, Peter McDonald, said Miller was "loosely painted as a hero" who witnessed a crime and stepped in to help.

But he disagreed with that portrayal. He said he was concerned about his daughters driving in town with Miller patrolling.

Resident Ashley Bush Patneaude requested that North Riverside remove Miller from the commission.

The incident, she said, raised questions about Miller's judgment and professionalism.

"The nature of the incident alone undermines public trust and calls into question Mr. Miller's ability to serve impartially and responsibly in this position," she said.

The residents wrote the village the day that a story about the incident appeared in the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark newspaper.

A day later, North Riverside issued a news release about it. The village confirmed an incident occurred involving an off-duty officer from a neighboring town.

The village said the local police department was not involved in the incident, but responded to a reported hit-and-run. North Riverside did not detain anyone, according to the news release.

North Riverside did not name Miller or note the fact that he held a village post.

Village officials have not returned Patch's messages.

In 2017, Miller shot and killed Marco Gomez, who was driving a stolen car in Forest Park, the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark newspaper reported.

Gomez's family sued Forest Park, with the village settling for $600,000 in 2021, the newspaper said.

Miller owns Stars & Stripes Sports Lounge in Indian Head Park, which is next to La Grange and Western Springs.