TUNKHANNOCK, Pa. — On June 7th, 2009, Pennsylvania State Trooper Joshua Miller was killed in a gun battle after a 40-mile pursuit that ended in Monroe County.
"Part of what brings us here today was a senseless act which happened in an instant," said District Attorney Joe Peters, Wyoming County.
Almost 15 years later, dozens of family, friends, troopers, and fellow members of law enforcement gathered in Tunkhannock to dedicate a permanent tribute to Trooper Miller, where his career in law enforcement began.
"When Josh got out of the Marine Corps, he came looking for a job in law enforcement and I was the chief of police in Tunkhannock at the time, and I just the first time I met him, I knew that it was the right fit for the job we thought he would do. He would be what it took to do the job. So we hired him," said Detective David Ide, Wyoming County District Attorney's Office.
"Josh was from Pittston, and actually, we met when he was here at the borough as a police officer, and I was a 911 Dispatcher at the time for Wyoming County. And then I went to state police as a dispatcher. And then I always kind of picked on him that he followed me and became a trooper," said Angela Miller, Trooper Joshua Miller's widow.
His last pursuit was to save a child, which he did, but it took the ultimate sacrifice, so now a statue of a trooper, with an American flag draped over their shoulders holding a child, will forever honor what Trooper Miller and his family gave up to save an innocent life.
"First of all, it's dedicated to him in memory of him, but he's dedicated to everyone in law enforcement because he should not have to be killed in the line of duty before somebody says he did a good job. Josh is just a character that the night that he passed away, we all got together and said we made a promise that we weren't going to forget him. For us, it was a promise that was going to be kept," said Detective Ide.
"It's taken a lot of dedication. A lot of heart, a lot of soul, and a lot of bond with somebody who meant a lot to them, just as he has us," said Angela.