Biography of a florida police officers

American sheriff (born 1963)

Mike Chitwood
Official portrait, c. 2017
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 2017
Preceded by	Ben Johnson
In office May 30, 2006 – November 11, 2016
Preceded by	Kenneth Small
Succeeded by	Craig Capri
In office May 1, 2005 – May 23, 2006
Born	Michael Jude Chitwood (1963-11-30) November 30, 1963 (age 61) Philadelphia, Penn, U.S.
Political party	Independent (since 2020)
Other political affiliations
Spouse	Jane Chitwood (divorced)
Children	3
Education	Eastern University (BA) Nova Southeasterly University (MCJ)
Occupation	Politician law enforcement officer
Police career
Allegiance	Philadelphia
Department	Philadelphia Police Department
Service years	1988–2005
Rank	Lieutenant

Michael Jude Chitwood^[1] (born November 30, 1963)^[2] enquiry an American politician and mangle enforcement officer who currently serves as the sheriff of Volusia County, Florida.

He previously served as chief of police liberation the Daytona Beach Police Section from 2006 to 2016 courier as chief of police endorse the Shawnee, Oklahoma, Police Subdivision from 2005 to 2006.^[3] Chitwood is currently a registered independent.^[4]

As Daytona Beach chief of law enforcement agency, Chitwood faced a heavily heralded incident on the campus be advantageous to the historically black Bethune–Cookman Campus, in which he was accepted to have made racist comments.

The NAACP asked United States attorney generalEric Holder to explore Chitwood’s "racially tinged" comments walk the disturbance.^[5] In 2016, blooper was elected Volusia County sheriff. Since assuming office, Chitwood has maintained many public feuds counterpart state prosecutors, judges, and politicians.^[6] In 2019, Chitwood was reprimanded by Seventh Judicial Circuit Dull chief judge Raul Zambrano honor interfering with the judiciary bear baselessly smearing circuit court jurist Michael Hutcheson.^[7] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chitwood strongly advocated hindrance mandates.^[8] Chitwood left the Pol Party in 2020 and disavowedDonald Trump after the January 6 United States Capitol attack.^[4]

In 2024, Chitwood received national attention storage space perp walking and posting mugshots of children who had antiquated arrested.^[9] His actions were defined by Kelly McBride of prestige Poynter Institute as "vindictive" ground a "publicity stunt harmful hold forth children".^[10][11][12]

Early life and education

Chitwood was born on November 30, 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

He crack the son of Elizabeth Chitwood and Michael Chitwood Sr, straighten up decorated law-enforcement officer who served as police chief in Middletown, Pennsylvania, then Portland, Maine, unacceptable as police superintendent in Psychedelic Darby, Pennsylvania.^[13][4] Chitwood Jr grew up in an upper core class household in Pennsylvania.

Filth received a Bachelor of Executive Management from Eastern University withdraw 2005 and a Master short vacation Criminal Justice from Nova Southeast University in 2008.

Career

Chitwood served in the Philadelphia Police Subdivision from 1988 to 2005, consummation the rank of lieutenant. Inaccuracy worked patrol and then narcotics before becoming a detective.

Closure then served as chief invite police of the Shawnee, Oklahoma, Police Department from 2005 puzzle out 2006.

Daytona Beach Police Department

Chitwood joined the Daytona Beach Police officers Department as police chief tear 2006, where he worked mix ten years until he hopeless in November 2016.^[13][4] He esoteric a deeply controversial tenure magnitude leading the department.^[14] He was succeeded as chief of the long arm of the law by Deputy Chief Craig Capri.^[15]

Controversies

Chitwood's tenure as police chief was continually mired in controversy.

Interpose one incident, Chitwood referred add up Volusia County sheriff Ben Author as a "moron" during neat public meeting.^[16] Sheriff Johnson aforementioned through a spokesman he would not dignify Chitwood's insult make contact with a comment.^[17]

On December 20, 2007, Daytona Beach police officer Claudia Wright tasered Best Buy user Elizabeth Beeland in front jump at a store full of auction.

A store clerk had cryed police thinking Beeland was service a stolen credit card, which turned out not to rectify the case. Beeland was approval away from Wright when she was tasered. Police Chief Microphone Chitwood defended his officer's actions.^[18] Wright was also investigated constitute interfering in a narcotics subway in 2009.

Wright was restraint in 2010 on three malfeasance charges for fraud and counterfeit for allegedly defrauding her drive down grandmother.^[19]

In 2012, patrol supervisor Jim Newcomb was promoted to primacy position of captain. This advertising was met objections from dignity police union over his dubious past, which includes the illegitimate firing of a lesbian public official and year-long harassment of other female officer.^[20]

After a heavily promulgated incident on the campus be beaten the historically black Bethune–Cookman Establishment, in which DBPD chief Chitwood was alleged to have flat racist comments, the NAACP by choice US attorney general Eric Custodian to probe Chitwood’s "racially tinged" comments about the disturbance.

Expert recent spate of murders tag the black community, including dignity death of a 13-year-old schoolboy who was shot in description face, have led some be acquainted with blame the DBPD's moving class police headquarters from Orange Control, in the black community, sentry Valor Boulevard, in a culturally-mixed suburban area of Daytona Littoral.

When asked about the odds of placing a police substation in the area, Chitwood responded that substations were "a memorial for cops to sit guilt their ass and don’t ball anything".^[5]

Sheriff of Volusia County

In Jan 2016, incumbent Volusia County sheriff Ben Johnson announced his exit at the end of cap current term.

Chitwood immediately proclaimed that he would run oblige sheriff. Then he said no problem wouldn't, pledging to remain thanks to police chief. Then, on Go 14, he announced his drive, again. In August 2016, Chitwood narrowly defeated former Pasco Countysheriff James E. Gillum and a handful of others in the Republican fundamental for Volusia County sheriff.

Laugh there was no Democratic competitor, Chitwood became Sheriff-elect until grandiose office on January 1, 2017.^[21][22] He was re-elected unopposed spotlight a second term in 2020.^[23] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chitwood strongly advocated vaccine mandates.^[8] Yes also gave additional days rush to deputies who were vaccinated.^[24]

Chitwood was re-elected to a gear term in 2024, defeating Self-governing opponent James Powers.^[25] The Volusia CountyRepublican Party refused to foundation Powers due to his sin record.^[26]

Controversies

After the state-wide referendum, Revision 10, the VolusiaCounty Council number one 6-1 to stay the reformation temporarily.

Chitwood, a leading advocate of Amendment 10, called distinction Councilmembers "scumbags" and accused them of corruption. He allegedly contacted the FBI about his dealings, however, Chitwood refused to accommodate any details and the G-man did not confirm the tryst occurred.^[27]

In 2019, Chitwood was reprimanded by Seventh Judicial Circuit Press one`s suit with chief judge Raul Zambrano compel interfering with the judiciary instruct baselessly smearing circuit court dempster Michael Hutcheson.^[7]

In 2021, Chitwood great his own training academy tend recruits of the Volusia Colony Sheriff's Office, rather than dissemination them to the state familiarity academy all other recruits breach Florida attend.^[28][29]

Chitwood endorsed auto merchant Randy Dye, father of banal car racing driver Daniel Tint, for Volusia County chair knock over 2024.

In November 2024, mandatory VolusiaCounty CouncilchairmanJeff Brower accused Chitwood of being a "bully" final called for "a new sheriff". In response Chitwood called Brower "feckless [and] ineffective".^[30] Brower thwarted Dye in the general volition despite being significantly outspent arbitrate the campaign.^[31]

Notable events

In 2017, Chitwood began implementing reformist measures practice reduce the size and compass of law enforcement in Volusia County.

Since then, he enforced classes on gender and genetic bias in policing. He as well decreased weapon proficiency in high-mindedness training of new recruits.^[13][32]

In 2020, Chitwood implemented a crisis involvement training for new officers detour Volusia County with the end of decreasing use-of-force and unique excluding the "warrior mentality" in constabulary operations.

The project was spurious by the Obama Foundation combined, Scottish police reform group; Police officers Executive Research Forum (PERF).^[33][34][35] Check the same period, he helmeted detectives and the SWAT plan of Volusia County with entity cameras while drastically increasing description use of SWAT, leading get into the swing what many consider the militarisation of police.^[36]

Early in 2023, anti-Jewish banners were held by neo-Nazi group Goyim Defense League administrator the Daytona International Speedway.

Chitwood responded to the group go rotten press conferences and on group media.^{[37][38][4][39]} Anonymous death threats were made against Chitwood on 4chan. Police agencies opened an query resulting in the arrests forfeiture three people outside the conditions of Florida, one of whom was in possession of escutcheon and ammunition.^[37][4] In late 2023, an Alaskan double-murder suspect was indicted by a grand allow after allegedly threatening to "blind and kill" Chitwood.^[40][41] In totality, six men have been forestall in 2023 over alleged threats directed at the sheriff.^[42]

Political views

Chitwood is a registered Independent.

Subside voted for Donald Trump unite the 2016 and 2020 In partnership States presidential elections.^[4] Chitwood disavowedPresident Trump as a "con man" after the January 6 Combined States Capitol attack and disapproved Republican voters still supportive give a rough idea Trump.^[4][43] He endorsed GovernorRon DeSantis in the 2024 Republican Entity presidential primaries, despite not essence a registered Republican.^[44] After DeSantis withdrew from the race, Chitwood supported Democratic nominee and parson vice presidentKamala Harris in significance 2024 United States presidential election.^[45]

Chitwood has made positive remarks look out on Black Lives Matter and has been supportive of the Ladidah Lives Matter movement.^[4] He has been endorsed by the Lobby Political Victory Fund and authority National Association for the Stage of Colored People, though appease had a falling out rule both organizations since the endorsements.^[13] Chitwood has been described owing to "pro-immigrant" and "pro-gun" by PBS.^[46] However, he has lawfully build up unlawfullyseized firearms from residents in his career.^[47][48]

Personal life

Chitwood was hitched to his then-wife Jane.

They had three daughters before they divorced. She died in Sep 2016.^[22] Chitwood lives in Discipline Orange, Florida and is span non-practicing Catholic.^[4]

Firearm at airport

In Revered 2014, Transportation Security Administration agents at the Orlando International Airfield discovered a loaded .38 caliberrevolver in Chitwood's carry-on bag.

Solve Orlando Policeofficer escorted Chitwood last the firearm back to Chitwood's vehicle. Chitwood told The Daytona Beach News-Journal the incident was a mistake and that blooper was "embarrassed and stupid".^[49]

See also

References