18 OCTOBER 2026 High Place 1/2 H S ome people are shaped by what they do for a living. Others are shaped by what they’ve seen along the way. In the case of Officer Andrew Miller, it’s probably a little of both. A 25-year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department, Miller has spent much of his career dealing with people and situations most of us would prefer never to encounter. Yet there’s a thoughtful, sensitive side to him – with a deep appreciation for his faith and a love of classical music. Get to know Miller, and you realize there’s more to this police officer than badge number he wears. “I guess I have a natural inclination to want to protect people, especially kids,” reflects the stocky cop, who goes by Drew. A warm smile belies his imposing physical stature. Miller said he grew up wanting to be in law enforcement but even still, he left the police force a few times, thinking he would try his hand at something else. He returned because he missed serving people. “I have the best job in our precinct – Mountain View Precinct 71 – because I get to do a little bit of everything,” he said. He compares the role to that of a free safety in football, “where you see the field and go to where the action is at.” Miller grew up in a large Irish Catholic family in upstate New York, the youngest of nine children. He attended SUNY Brockport where her played soccer and studied criminal justice. “I was better on the soccer field than I was in the lecture hall,” he said, grinning. After college, he followed one of his brothers to the Valley in 1999. “It was a tough adjustment coming to Arizona; the landscape, the heat and even the culture.” Miller says he has seen too much of the “dark side” in his quarter century of service patrolling the streets, and occasionally it has been more than a little risky. “Several times, I felt my life was in danger. Once, a woman in a mental health crisis was firing a gun in the neighborhood. With her family behind me, I aimed my gun at her as she said, ‘Shoot me,’ and slowly raised her gun. By the grace of God, she ultimately dropped it.” As CAO, he serves as a liaison between the precinct and the hundreds of neighborhoods that it covers. “I probably shouldn’t say this but Arcadia is one of my favorites. Sometimes I just drive around admiring the landscapes and the views. It’s a great neighborhood and so are the people,” he said. Miller met his wife while working as a security officer at a hospital where she worked. They have been married 20 years and have two daughters. He often keeps his answers general – not saying names, because police officers, especially former detectives, must protect their personal information. “You never know when someone might want payback.” Despite the unpredictable and dangerous daily routine, Miller has maintained a positive outlook on life, shaped largely by a personal faith passed down to him by his mother. “My mom was always faithful and a real prayer warrior. I learned much from her,” he said. Today he is a regular in a men’s bible study and also teaches Sunday School. Miller’s advice for young people is direct and without waver: “Be a critical thinker, question what you have been told, seek other perspectives, and consider the bible as the way to find truth in a world full of lies and deception.” Officer Andrew Miller Arcadia is one of my favorites. Sometimes I just drive around admiring the landscapes and the views.