For Cmdr. Jeff Miles, helping other people wasn
’t just a part of the job, it was an affirmation that his chosen
career was the right one.
For Cmdr. Jeff Miles, helping other people wasn’t just a part of the job, it was an affirmation that his chosen career was the right one.
“When I was on an assignment on Skyline Drive and Saratoga Gap, a pretty deserted area, I came around a corner and came upon a young man who had fallen off his bike,” said Miles, who retired Dec. 31 from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office after nearly 31 years.
“He had massive head injuries, and an ambulance was at least 25 minutes away. I didn’t think he’d make it. So I bandaged him up and took him off to the hospital in my car. He made it.”
That, he said, is when he knew he was in the right place.
The Sheriff’s Office turned out to be the right place for Miles in more ways than one: he met his wife, Karen, while working there. She was the executive assistant to the sheriff.
“We were married 20 years ago,” he said. “We never really discuss work at home. We just leave it at the office. Over the years, there may have been particularly difficult cases where I might have said something, but mostly we don’t bring things home.”
Miles’ advice to those starting out in law enforcement seems to be commonsense, something that would apply in every career, but it is something he said is especially important in that line of work:
“Treat people the way you would like to be treated yourself,” he said. “Do your job honestly and decently, and always do what you know is right.”
When he retired, his position in the department was commander of the field enforcement bureau, which meant he was in charge of all patrol officers, all investigative functions and the community-oriented policing department.
“(Working with the Sheriff’s Office) was always something I wanted to do,” said Miles, who spent his entire career with the department. “I worked in each and every function, including patrol investigations, warrant units, task forces, in the jails run the court security.”
Although Miles is looking forward to retirement, he said he never wanted to change jobs and never tired of his career.
“I never thought that this is just a career,” he said. “I always felt that the Sheriff’s Office was one big family. I always tell the new kids that there’s something different every day … you’re always helping someone.”
Now that he’s retired, Miles said, he’ll be able to spend more time with his family. But he doesn’t intend to live a life of leisure alone.
“I’ve got my irons in the coals,” he said.
His instinct to help others and his commitment to public safety will most likely lead him to continue to be connected to law enforcement in some way.
“It’s possible that I could go to work with the college,” he said, referring to the South Bay Regional Training Consortium, which conducts police academies at area colleges.
With his background in all areas of the Sheriff’s Office and years of experience, Miles said he thinks he has something to offer law enforcement officers in training.
“Besides, I really like working with the new kids,” he said.
