A former officer claims retaliation after trying to protect two girls from harm
York: Back in November 2021, Marisa Vicosa reached out to the York Area Regional Police. She was in a terrifying situation with her estranged husband, Robert Vicosa, who was threatening her and their two young daughters.
Cpl. Daniel Miller was the supervisor on duty that day. He advised Marisa to get an emergency protection order, which she did. But things took a dark turn when Miller wanted to act quickly to help her and the girls.
He was really concerned about the abuse Marisa reported, including being held hostage. Miller planned to execute the order at their home, but he had to go through his boss first. Unfortunately, Police Chief Tim Damon told him to wait until the next day, which was a huge mistake.
By the time they could act, Robert had taken the girls, leading to a tragic manhunt that ended with the deaths of the girls and himself. The next day, Miller told Marisa that the order hadn’t been served and suggested she file a complaint against Damon.
Marisa’s lawyer later claimed the police failed to protect the girls, resulting in a $3 million settlement. This case also prompted changes in how the police handle protection orders.
But for Miller, things didn’t end well. He was demoted shortly after the case wrapped up. Now, he’s filed a federal lawsuit against the department, claiming he faced retaliation for trying to do his job and save the girls.
Miller, who has been with the department for 25 years, argues that Damon broke the law by not executing the protection order. Just a day after Marisa filed her complaint against Damon, Miller was put on administrative leave.
The lawsuit suggests that the timing of his leave shows a retaliatory motive. Miller claims he didn’t give Marisa Damon’s address, but the department accused him of doing so.
He says he faced a lot of unfair treatment after the incident, including being demoted and losing specialized duties. His lawsuit points to comments from other officers that show he was being treated differently.
In August 2022, Miller reached a settlement to restore his rank and pay for lost wages, but the department didn’t follow through. A second settlement was reached in August 2023, but again, the terms weren’t honored.
The lawsuit accuses the department and its leaders of violating Miller’s rights and retaliating against him for trying to report wrongdoing. For now, Miller is still on the job as the case moves through the courts.
Chief Damon hasn’t commented on the lawsuit yet.
