Sunriver Police Chief Marc Mills placed on paid leave

(Update: Board chair comments; Bend police Capt. Cory Darling to serve as interim Sunriver chief)

Sunriver Police Chief Marc Mills has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the results of an ongoing investigation, officials confirmed Tuesday.

After the Sunriver Service District Board met in closed-door executive session Tuesday morning, Chair Jim Fister told NewsChannel 21 that Mills was put on leave Sunday.

Fister said he could not share any specifics in regards to the allegations, but said once the investigation is wrapped up, the service district for the resort community will share the information with the public.

Fister said the action involving Mills will not impact public safety.

“I’m very confident in our police department to be able to, in coordination with normal county and state processes, ensure the safety and security of Sunriver,” Fister said.

Mills, 61, became Sunriver’s police chief in February 2012 after more than 38 years with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, rising to the rank of captain.

Bend Police Chief Jim Porter said he’s agreed to assist Sunriver by temporarily assigning Capt. Cory Darling to fill the position of interim police chief.

He said Darling is a 27-year veteran of the Bend police force who has served as a patrol team supervisor, drugs investigator and SWAT team member and leader, also having served as commander of the patrol and support services divisions.

The Sunriver police chief’s annual salary is $105,800.