AG Holder on Miles: 'very rare honor'

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Patrick Miles was sworn in as the US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan with US Attorney General Eric Holder in attendance.

Miles is now the federal government's top attorney for a district that covers 49 counties, including parts of the Upper Peninsula.

The investiture took place at Miles' high school alma mater, Ottawa Hills High School. Miles actually took over the office in July.

Holder praised Miles and said it should be no surprise Miles' former Harvard classmate, President Barack Obama, wanted him for this job.

"During his time in private practice, Pat set a standard of excellence from the day that he, along with another ambitious young man named Barack Obama graduated from Harvard Law School. He seemed to do pretty well," Holder said.

"Make no mistake, this is a very very rare honor. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and is afforded to only the most qualified and most dedicated men and women at the pinnacle of the legal profession," Holder said. "But as we've seen thought Pat's life, this is exactly who he is."

Miles is now in charge of enforcing federal law for the 3.4 million Michiganders who live in the Western District and beyond.

"We can help prevent crimes in this office," Miles said, "through education, outreach into the community and deterrence."

There's been a great deal of cooperation between Miles' office and local police agencies over the years, especially using existing federal laws to combat gang and drug-related violence. Many local police chiefs attended the investiture.