Bucks For Bosco

Posts Tagged ‘Help an officer’

In January of 2009, Eddie Miller was living the American dream.  Two smart and beautiful children, a loving wife, nineteen successful years in law enforcement, life couldn’t have been better.  By the middle of January, all that began to change.  It started with bad headaches, vomiting, dizziness, cramps, chest pains and trouble breathing.  His doctor diagnosed flu but the medicine didn’t have any effect and the symptoms persisted.  He took some time off from work to recover, but the illness persisted.  By the morning of March 23, 2009, the life he and his family had built began to crumble like ashes in a stiff breeze.

Eddie collapsed while at work at the Sheriff’s office and was transported to the hospital.  He was released four days later on oxygen.  Within a week he’d been diagnosed with chemical asthma by a pulmonary specialist and ultimately ended up at the Cleveland Clinic were he was diagnosed with paralysis to the right vocal cord and right side of the upper airway.  Now he fights every day to breath.  Strong odors can trigger an attack, getting excited leaves him struggling to breath.  He can’t work, he can’t drive alone.  He can’t yell in happiness when one of his daughters brings home a good report card.  Then it gets worse.  Miller used up his sick time by the end of July 2009 and was paid by his accumulated vacation time until it ran out at the end of September.  His workers compensation claim has been denied and now his house is being foreclosed on.

Miller has been serving the community for almost twenty years.  He completed the police academy in 1990 with a commission from the Crooksville Police Department.  He served as a fulltime officer with CPD from February 1991 until he accepted a position with the Sheriff’s office in April 2000.  Totally devoted to law enforcement, over his career Eddie continued his education with classes in everything. Sexual assault and high-speed pursuit, interview, crime scene techniques, investigation and domestic violence are just a few of the classes he added to his skill set.  After joining the Sheriff’s office, he continued this trend and was certified in clan-lab detection and investigation.   In 2006, he was certified as a meth lab tech.   He applied every bit of knowledge he gained to his job, and has the closed case files to prove it.

In August 2008, working with other officers, informants and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI) Miller seized at total of 8,300 marijuana plants from a residence.  A senior BCI agent told Miller that it was the bust of a lifetime and probably wouldn’t happen again.  However, in late September of 2008, Eddie again gained intelligence that served as the key for the discovery of over 6,000 marijuana plants just inside Muskingum County.  He was involved in over 200 meth lab investigations in fewer than three years.  Law enforcement was a lifestyle, not just a vocation to Eddie Miller.  He was a cop, even when he wasn’t on the clock.  A team player, Miller has letters of thanks and appreciation from the citizens he’s served as well as the officers he’s worked with.

On Saturday, March 6, 2010 beginning at noon, there will be benefit held for the Miller family at the New Lexington Eagles.  Children are welcome until 8:00 p.m.  Vibert Wisecarver will serve as DJ; Mike Dalrymple is sponsoring a cornhole tournament, there with a Chinese auction, live auction and photo opportunities with characters from Star Wars.  Hot shredded chicken, hot dogs, sloppy joes, coneys, chicken and noodles, taco in a bag and baked goods will be served throughout the day.  Proceeds from the event will help save the families home.  Anyone who would like to help with the event should contact Joyce at 342-1013, Patty at 342-2426, Eleanor at 342-2945 or Rodney at 982-2062.  Donations are being accepted by check made out to Ed or Jackie Miller and mailed in care of Patty Gray, Treasurer, P.O. Box 6, New Lexington, OH  43764.

Article written by Kathy Campbell for the Perry County Tribune.

Hi Folks, I wanted you all to know about another Police Officer who got injured in the line of duty. Deputy Ed Miller of the Perry County Sheriff’s Office has been off work for sometime now with breathing difficulties after investigating a meth lab where he inhaled something that has caused him severe breathing difficulties. It now looks like this injury will stay with Ed for the rest of his life. As a former officer who was injured in the line of duty I know how trying an on the job injury can be on you and your family. With that said let me tell the story. Ed who I consider a personal friend now finds himself in foreclosure on him home and that of his wife and two daughters. Due to him not being able to return to work. Ed has served Perry County as a law enforcement officer since 1991 many of you i am sure will know him if you saw him.

Ed and his family are in desperate need of our help. For those of you who will say well isn’t he getting paid by the BWC? No he isn’t they are now saying it is a pre-existing condition! I have know Ed for years , his breathing has always be fine. So you might ask, isn’t he on public assistance, yes he is and it is not enough, barely enough to keep the family in food and clothing. The thought of his two daughters not living in the home they have known since birth turns my stomach. This is a nice family and for such a terrible thing to happen to them is a true tragedy.

Please if you can help me help Ed and his family, no gift is to big or to small. Please tell everyone you know about this and about the benefit, we can use all the help we can get for these wonderful people.

Neighbors and Friends will be holding a benefit on Sat. March 6th from Noon to whenever at the New Lexington Eagles, everyone is welcome (children included till 8 p.m.).

Due to Ed’s breathing difficulties we ask that you please not wear any perfumes or hand lotions or hand sanitizers, I know this sound extreme but Ed has such a time just trying to breath we do not want to make it any worse form him. Ed and his family will be there for as long as Ed can handle it.

I would like to personally thank you in advance for any help you can bring to these great people and for all the support you have shown for my family.

Thank you,

Ryan Sharrer

If you are able to help please Make Checks payable to Ed or Jackie Miller and send a check or money order to;

C/O Patty Gray, Treasurer
P.O. Box 6
New Lexington, OH 43764

If you have any questions or would like to help with the benefit yo umay call any of the names or numbers listed here;

Joyce 740-342-1013
Patty 740-342-2426
Eleanor 740-342-2945
Rodney 740-982-2062