Brian Miller

Police Chief Brian Miller began his career in 2005 and has served as Patrol Officer, Gang Enforcement Officer, Field Training Officer, Crisis Negotiator, Detective, Deputy Chief of Police, and is bilingual in Spanish.  Chief Miller was selected to serve at the Department’s 25th Police Chief following his selection in 2024.

In 2014, he promoted to Sergeant where he supervised patrol teams, our Field Training Program, and Gang Enforcement Team. In 2017, he promoted to Lieutenant, taking on new roles and responsibilities. In his time as a Lieutenant, he served as our Negotiations Commander and SWAT Tactical Commander, a Patrol Watch Commander and managed many of our specialized units including, our Field Training Program, K-9 team, as well as the Special Service Division, which includes our Investigations and Traffic Teams. He promoted to the position of Deputy Chief of Police in 2020 and served as the Interim Police Chief since in 2023 until he promoted to Chief of Police the following year.

Chief Miller has a Bachelor’s degree in History and a Minor in International Relations from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Master’s degree in Homeland Security and Counter-Terrorism Studies from American Military University.  He also received a Criminal Justice Education certificate from the University of Virginia.  Chief Miller has received his POST Advanced, Supervisory, and Management Certificates.  Chief Miller is also a graduate of the Leadership Petaluma program.

In 2020, Chief Miller graduated from 279th session of the FBI National Academy along with two hundred and fifty-five other Law Enforcement Officers.  The 279^th session of the National Academy consisted of men and women from 49 states and the District of Columbia. The class included members of law enforcement agencies from 32 countries, five military organizations, and eight federal civilian organizations.

In 2023, Chief Miller graduated from Law Enforcement Command College Class 70.  The Law Enforcement Command College is a 14-month program designed to prepare law enforcement leaders of today for the challenges of the future.

Chief Miller is a member of the Petaluma Elks Lodge #901, California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), California Association of Hostage Negotiators (CAHN), California Narcotics Officer Association (CNOA), California Police Officers Association (CPOA).  Chief Miller is also an adjunct faculty instructor at the Santa Rosa Junior College Public Safety Training Center.  Chief Miller served on the California Police Chiefs Association Board of Directors as the Northern California Associate Member Representative and currently  serves on the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Chief Miller received the Petaluma Police Officer of the Year Award from the Petaluma VFW Post 1929 in 2010 and he received the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award in 2013 sponsored by the Exchange Club and selected by the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chiefs Association.  Chief Miller is the recipient of our Distinguished Service Medal, Medal of Valor, Medal of Bravery and proudly shares our Meritorious Unit Citation.