Sunriver Service Board to seek settlement with Chief Mills

The Sunriver Service Board voted Monday to begin negotiations with Police Chief Marc Mills and his attorney about a possible settlement.

Board President Jim Fister will be working with legal counsel to come up with an agreement with Mills.
Mills was put on paid administrative leave back in December, as the board and the state Department of Justice opened separate investigations.

According to Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel, who charged Mills last week with misdemeanor harassment, Mills allegedly shoved a police sergeant in early December. Investigators are not releasing what police matter, in Hummel’s words, led up to the altercation between Mills and Sgt. Joseph Patnode, while both were on duty.

The district is conducting its own investigation into the allegations.

Mills was scheduled to give his side of the incident, but the board received a call from Mills’ lawyer saying his client would be open to a settlement in the case.

“We did retain an investigator, the investigator in the course of the investigation thus far has expanded the initial incident to include other claims,” Fister said.

The board discussed the matter in closed-door executive session, but it appeared clear to at least some in the room that Mills will be leaving the position. Some residents voiced support for Mills, while others said the revelations could point to more issues that have not come to light.

Sunriver resident Alan Braemer said, “It’s too bad we lost both the fire chief and a police chief within one year, because those people have been with us a long time.”

NewsChannel 21 asked Fister if he could go into more details about the new claims, but he said once the investigation was complete, they will make the information public.

Bend Police Capt. Cory Darling has been appointed as interim chief of the Sunriver Police Department.