AMHERST — Earl Miller, hired to lead the town’s unarmed community responders department in March 2022, resigned this week after being on paid administrative leave for the past two months, a leave that town officials said would remain in effect until an independent investigation was completed.

“We will be having a change in leadership,” Town Manager Paul Bockelman told the Town Council on Monday regarding the Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Service department. “We will be recruiting for a new director, as well.”

Miller’s resignation, though, doesn’t go into effect until Nov. 30. Until that time, he will continue to work in an advisory capacity.

The department was created out of recommendations from the Community Safety Working Group, a panel formed by the Town Council following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, to address racial inequities in policing and to serve as an alternative to police responses in certain situations.

“The town recognizes Earl’s accomplishments and commends him on imagining and implementing the town’s CRESS department,” Bockelman said in a statement. “Earl has been instrumental in bringing the vision of CRESS into reality and getting the department off the ground.” 

In early September 2022, four multi-racial two member teams began their work, handling responses to incidents that don’t involve violence or serious crime, focused on areas such as mental health issues, homelessness, substance abuse, trespass, truancy, wellness checks, youth and schools.

Since Miller was placed on leave in late summer, an interim leadership group has been in place, made up of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director Pamela Nolan Young, Police Sgt. Janet Griffin, Fire Chief Tim Nelson and Kat Newman, the CRESS program assistant. Three of the eight original responders have resigned, though Bockelman said those vacancies will be filled.

Town officials have been tight-lipped about the reason for the administrative leave. Miller, reached via Facebook messenger Tuesday, said he could not comment on the matter.

The town, though, issued a statement on his behalf. “I will forever be grateful to the town of Amherst for giving me the opportunity to establish the CRESS department in Amherst.  With the support of the town, including the town manager, the Town Council, and many advocates in the community, the department has had a successful start.  As CRESS moves into its next stage of operations, I will be moving on to the next phase of my career.  I wish the town and the CRESS department the best as the town continues to develop this important initiative.” 

Miller has also created a GoFundMe page where he offers an explanation for seeking $10,000, without much detail.

“I am currently going through a tricky situation that I can’t get into details on. Sorry for the vagueness and it’s a part of the trickiness of it all,” he wrote.

Miller, who came to the position after being regional director of recovery for the state Department of Mental Health since December 2017, had also once been homeless, and founded and developed programs to get permanent, affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness.

“I have spent my entire adult life doing my best to help folks in need. Using my own experience of crisis and homelessness, I work to help people find meaning in painful moments and to help move forward,” he wrote on the GoFundMe page.

Miller’s leave has been frustrating for members of the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee, who have repeatedly expressed worries about the interim leadership and participation by other public safety officials, and whether the long-term prospects of the new department are being diminished.

Before the Town Council discussion, Russ Vernon Jones, a member of the Community Safety Working Group, contended that Miller hadn’t been immediately presented details of the complaint against him, and also argued that Bockelman hadn’t acted quickly enough to get emergency dispatch to begin directing calls to the community responders. That change in duties was subject to collective bargaining.

District 3 Councilor Dorothy Pam, too, asked Bockelman if Miller hadn’t been allowed to defend himself.

“Obviously, I can’t talk about personnel issues in this meeting,” Bockelman said.

“The word personnel covers up everything,” Pam responded.

At Large Councilor Andy Steinberg said the Town Council need to understand what has prevented the responders from being active in the way envisioned by the working group.

District 3 Councilor Jennifer Taub said she is concerned that the community responders have been doing many community events, such as pizza parties at apartment complexes, rather than responding to actual calls from the community, but Bockelman said they have done more than just community events, including case management and working directly with individuals.

“Ultimately, they’ll be taking over more calls,” Bockelman said.

Bockelman said he is taking steps to make sure the department remains successful and is part of the town for the long haul, understanding that similar entities will be part of the future public safety framework in cities and towns across the country.

“There’s no denying this is a difficult time for the CRESS department as we go through some transitions in the leadership,” Bockelman said.

Pat Ononibaku, who also served on the Community Safety Working Group, said there are various reasons she believes CRESS was “set up to fail,” including the town not investing enough money in its work to make it an around-the-clock operation, not having a second in command, and opposition to its creation by the police, emergency dispatchers and the Fire Department.

She blamed racism for what has happened to Miller.

“Our town does not support people of color in a position of power,” Ononibaku said. “See what is happening to Mr. Miller.”

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.