Chief Jim Millin, of the Niles Police Department, was recognized Monday for his efforts in supporting an employee who is a member of the United States Reserve Forces.

Millin received the Patriot Award after being nominated by Sgt. Scott Swanson, a longtime Niles police officer and member of the U.S. Army Reserve.

Paul Ryan, a representative of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) presented the award to Millin at Monday’s meeting of the Niles City Council.

Ryan said any employees who serve in the U.S. National Guard or Reserve Force can nominate a supervisor who supports them by offering flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment and in other ways.

Ryan read from a letter written by Swanson, who thanked Millin for his personal commitment to supporting his military service.

Swanson was hired in 1997 by the Niles Police Department while still in the U.S. Army Reserve.

He said has always been treated with a high level of respect and gratitude by the police department when he returns from deployments and has never struggled to get time off for drills or annual training.

“I find full support for my military service from my chief of police as well as the City of Niles,” he said in the letter.

Swanson, Ryan said, is known to the Pentagon as Sgt. First Class Scott Swanson of the 428 Military Police Company of the U.S. Army Reserve.

Ryan said the purpose of the ESGR is to create a culture where military service is valued by every civilian employer in the United States. He praised Millin, the Niles Police Department and the Niles City Council for providing such a work environment.