Former Sunriver Police Chief Marc Mills, who struck one of his sergeants in the chest with a sign, was not sentenced to jail time or probation, but was fined $100, which he has paid.

Mills’ sentence came after he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of harassment at a hearing Thursday in Deschutes County Circuit Court. Mills did not appear in court but was represented by defense lawyer Erick Ward.

The harassment conviction stems from Mills hitting Sgt. Joseph Patnode with a metal citizens patrol sign so hard the officer’s head hit a wall. Both men were on duty at the Sunriver Police station at the time. The physical altercation Dec. 1 was witnessed by a Sunriver Police administrative staff member and a Sunriver Police officer, Tiffany Hughes, who reported the incident to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy District Attorney Van McIver said the sign was given to the citizens patrol, but it wasn’t returned and later found in a field with bullet holes in it. Mills became upset about the condition of the sign and struck Patnode with it, McIver said. The strike was not hard or painful, but Patnode felt it was disrespectful.

McIver said he is satisfied with the resolution, given the fact that Mills resigned in February.

“Obviously the ramifications of this went far beyond a single conviction for harassment,” McIver said in court. “There is no criminal history at all in Chief Mills’ long line of service.”

Mills was unavailable for comment Thursday, but his defense lawyer said in court the whole experience has been extremely difficult on Mills and his family.

“At the end of the day, this is a guy who has served our community notably and honorably for the last 42 years,” Ward said in court. “This is not the end he would have chosen for himself, but the process has taught him it is time for him to move on. For that reason he resigned his post.”

Mills, 62, was placed on paid administrative leave Dec. 3, pending an internal investigation by the Sunriver Service District, which oversees the police department. During the service district’s investigation, more employees raised complaints about instances of Mills losing his temper at work and employees fearing retaliation.

A separate investigation by the Oregon Department of Justice resulted in the misdemeanor harassment charge.

Mills served as Sunriver police chief since 2012 and received an annual salary of $105,882. The former longtime member of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office also collects an annual pension benefit of roughly $138,000 from the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System.

According to a separation agreement between the service district and Mills, the former police chief will receive severance pay in the amount of his salary through April 30.

In addition, Mills will be paid for about two weeks of unused vacation time and agrees not to sue the service district, according to the agreement.

Retired Salem Police Deputy Chief Scott Hayes was appointed last month to serve as interim police chief as the service district continues to search for a permanent replacement for Mills.

— Reporter: 541-617-7820, kspurr@bendbulletin.com