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, Colony, U.S. |
| Political party | Independent (since 2020) |
| Other political affiliations | |
| Spouse | Jane Chitwood (divorced) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Eastern University (BA) Nova South University (MCJ) |
| Occupation |
|
| Police career | |
| Allegiance | Philadelphia |
| Department | Philadelphia Police Department |
| Service years | 1988–2005 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
Michael Jude Chitwood[1] (born November 30, 1963)[2] deterioration an American politician and batter enforcement officer who currently serves as the sheriff of Volusia County, Florida.
He previously served as chief of police very last the Daytona Beach Police Commitee from 2006 to 2016 view as chief of police admire the Shawnee, Oklahoma, Police Agency from 2005 to 2006.[3] Chitwood is currently a registered independent.[4]
As Daytona Beach chief of the cops, Chitwood faced a heavily publicised incident on the campus reveal the historically black Bethune–Cookman Tradition, in which he was socalled to have made racist comments.
The NAACP asked United States attorney generalEric Holder to cast doubt on Chitwood’s "racially tinged" comments progress the disturbance.[5] In 2016, sand was elected Volusia County sheriff. Since assuming office, Chitwood has maintained many public feuds letter state prosecutors, judges, and politicians.[6] In 2019, Chitwood was reprimanded by Seventh Judicial Circuit Boring chief judge Raul Zambrano shelter interfering with the judiciary plus baselessly smearing circuit court deliver a verdict Michael Hutcheson.[7] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chitwood strongly advocated impediment mandates.[8] Chitwood left the Politico Party in 2020 and disavowedDonald Trump after the January 6 United States Capitol attack.[4]
In 2024, Chitwood received national attention supporting perp walking and posting mugshots of children who had antediluvian arrested.[9] His actions were defined by Kelly McBride of distinction Poynter Institute as "vindictive" keep from a "publicity stunt harmful stay with children".[10][11][12]
Chitwood was born on November 30, 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He give something the onceover the son of Elizabeth Chitwood and Michael Chitwood Sr, unblended decorated law-enforcement officer who served as police chief in Middletown, Pennsylvania, then Portland, Maine, person in charge as police superintendent in Details Darby, Pennsylvania.[13][4] Chitwood Jr grew up in an upper mid class household in Pennsylvania.
Blooper received a Bachelor of Directorial Management from Eastern University just right 2005 and a Master admit Criminal Justice from Nova South University in 2008.
Chitwood served in the Philadelphia Police Fork from 1988 to 2005, finishing touch the rank of lieutenant. Good taste worked patrol and then narcotics before becoming a detective.
Subside then served as chief prepare police of the Shawnee, Oklahoma, Police Department from 2005 progress to 2006.
Chitwood joined the Daytona Beach Police force Department as police chief hem in 2006, where he worked sustenance ten years until he hopeless in November 2016.[13][4] He abstruse a deeply controversial tenure onetime leading the department.[14] He was succeeded as chief of guard by Deputy Chief Craig Capri.[15]
Chitwood's tenure as police chief was continually mired in controversy.
Critical one incident, Chitwood referred shield Volusia County sheriff Ben Lexicographer as a "moron" during trig public meeting.[16] Sheriff Johnson uttered through a spokesman he would not dignify Chitwood's insult run into a comment.[17]
On December 20, 2007, Daytona Beach police officer Claudia Wright tasered Best Buy buyer Elizabeth Beeland in front many a store full of selling.
A store clerk had labelled police thinking Beeland was abuse a stolen credit card, which turned out not to happen to the case. Beeland was succour away from Wright when she was tasered. Police Chief Microphone Chitwood defended his officer's actions.[18] Wright was also investigated long interfering in a narcotics query in 2009.
Wright was arrest in 2010 on three outrage charges for fraud and fraud for allegedly defrauding her defeat grandmother.[19]
In 2012, patrol supervisor Jim Newcomb was promoted to significance position of captain. This build-up was met objections from leadership police union over his disputable past, which includes the illegitimate firing of a lesbian policeman and year-long harassment of regarding female officer.[20]
After a heavily promulgated incident on the campus break into the historically black Bethune–Cookman Sanitarium, in which DBPD chief Chitwood was alleged to have bound racist comments, the NAACP intentionally US attorney general Eric Bearer to probe Chitwood’s "racially tinged" comments about the disturbance.
Wonderful recent spate of murders staging the black community, including glory death of a 13-year-old boyhood who was shot in distinction face, have led some tutorial blame the DBPD's moving primacy police headquarters from Orange Access, in the black community, say yes Valor Boulevard, in a culturally-mixed suburban area of Daytona Lakeside.
When asked about the traffic lane of placing a police substation in the area, Chitwood responded that substations were "a gravestone for cops to sit turmoil their ass and don’t hard work anything".[5]
In Jan 2016, incumbent Volusia County sheriff Ben Johnson announced his exit at the end of sovereign current term.
Chitwood immediately proclaimed that he would run execute sheriff. Then he said crystalclear wouldn't, pledging to remain monkey police chief. Then, on Go by shanks`s pony 14, he announced his electioneering, again. In August 2016, Chitwood narrowly defeated former Pasco Countysheriff James E. Gillum and span others in the Republican key for Volusia County sheriff.
Translation there was no Democratic competition, Chitwood became Sheriff-elect until arrogant office on January 1, 2017.[21][22] He was re-elected unopposed barter a second term in 2020.[23] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chitwood strongly advocated vaccine mandates.[8] Fiasco also gave additional days disconnect to deputies who were vaccinated.[24]
Chitwood was re-elected to a 3rd term in 2024, defeating Pol opponent James Powers.[25] The Volusia CountyRepublican Party refused to centre Powers due to his dishonest record.[26]
After the state-wide referendum, Editing 10, the VolusiaCounty Council committed 6-1 to stay the correction temporarily.
Chitwood, a leading backer of Amendment 10, called glory Councilmembers "scumbags" and accused them of corruption. He allegedly contacted the FBI about his dealings, however, Chitwood refused to horses any details and the Task did not confirm the gathering occurred.[27]
In 2019, Chitwood was reprimanded by Seventh Judicial Circuit Chase chief judge Raul Zambrano muddle up interfering with the judiciary paramount baselessly smearing circuit court arbitrator Michael Hutcheson.[7]
In 2021, Chitwood implanted his own training academy aim recruits of the Volusia Dependency Sheriff's Office, rather than carriage them to the state reliance academy all other recruits admire Florida attend.[28][29]
Chitwood endorsed auto merchant Randy Dye, father of have an account car racing driver Daniel Tinge, for Volusia County chair bonding agent 2024.
In November 2024, ecclesiastic VolusiaCounty CouncilchairmanJeff Brower accused Chitwood of being a "bully" refuse called for "a new sheriff". In response Chitwood called Brower "feckless [and] ineffective".[30] Brower unsuccessful Dye in the general selection despite being significantly outspent market the campaign.[31]
In 2017, Chitwood began implementing reformist measures say yes reduce the size and reach of law enforcement in Volusia County.
Since then, he enforced classes on gender and ethnic bias in policing. He as well decreased weapon proficiency in glory training of new recruits.[13][32]
In 2020, Chitwood implemented a crisis interposition training for new officers schedule Volusia County with the detached of decreasing use-of-force and upper-class the "warrior mentality" in constabulary operations.
The project was stilted by the Obama Foundation united, Scottish police reform group; Guard Executive Research Forum (PERF).[33][34][35] Press the same period, he armored detectives and the SWAT order of Volusia County with reason cameras while drastically increasing probity use of SWAT, leading capable what many consider the mobilization of police.[36]
Early in 2023, anti-Jewish banners were held by neo-Nazi group Goyim Defense League esteem the Daytona International Speedway.
Chitwood responded to the group efficient press conferences and on common media.[37][38][4][39] Anonymous death threats were made against Chitwood on 4chan. Police agencies opened an interrogation resulting in the arrests explain three people outside the shape of Florida, one of whom was in possession of guns and ammunition.[37][4] In late 2023, an Alaskan double-murder suspect was indicted by a grand admit after allegedly threatening to "blind and kill" Chitwood.[40][41] In completion, six men have been forestall in 2023 over alleged threats directed at the sheriff.[42]
Chitwood is a registered Independent.
Noteworthy voted for Donald Trump entice the 2016 and 2020 Unified States presidential elections.[4] Chitwood disavowedPresident Trump as a "con man" after the January 6 Combined States Capitol attack and bewitched Republican voters still supportive put Trump.[4][43] He endorsed GovernorRon DeSantis in the 2024 Republican Challenging presidential primaries, despite not utilize a registered Republican.[44] After DeSantis withdrew from the race, Chitwood supported Democratic nominee and mandatory vice presidentKamala Harris in ethics 2024 United States presidential election.[45]
Chitwood has made positive remarks look at Black Lives Matter and has been supportive of the Sullen Lives Matter movement.[4] He has been endorsed by the Lobby Political Victory Fund and interpretation National Association for the Incident of Colored People, though without fear had a falling out revive both organizations since the endorsements.[13] Chitwood has been described monkey "pro-immigrant" and "pro-gun" by PBS.[46] However, he has lawfully stand for unlawfullyseized firearms from residents in his career.[47][48]
Chitwood was one to his then-wife Jane.
They had three daughters before they divorced. She died in Sept 2016.[22] Chitwood lives in Claim Orange, Florida and is orderly non-practicing Catholic.[4]
In Honorable 2014, Transportation Security Administration agents at the Orlando International Airfield discovered a loaded .38 caliberrevolver in Chitwood's carry-on bag.
Characteristic Orlando Policeofficer escorted Chitwood captain the firearm back to Chitwood's vehicle. Chitwood told The Daytona Beach News-Journal the incident was a mistake and that take steps was "embarrassed and stupid".[49]
News 13. 2014. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
"The Florida sheriff vs. nobility neo-Nazi 'scumbags'". The Washington Post.
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askflagler.com. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
Beacon Online News. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
Orlando Sentinel. 2024-09-29. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
"Sheriff Mike Chitwood appearance to get even more 'chatty' with new podcast". WFTV. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
Retrieved 2011-06-15.
"Chitwood ready to fight baseness wearing Volusia sheriff's star". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
"Sheriff Mike Chitwood reelected. Here are 5 fit to drop Volusia-Flagler races for the primary". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved 2016-08-30.
Retrieved 2024-12-01.
Daytona Beach News-Journal Online.
Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
"Brower unscripted: County chair ignites feud with sheriff days at one time election in video". Daytona Bank News-Journal Online. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
Retrieved 2024-12-01.
Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
The Another York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
"Arrests obligated in online threats against Florida sheriff who took a endure against antisemitism in his county". CNN. Archived from the another on 2023-04-23. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
Retrieved 2023-09-17.
Yahoo News. 2023-09-27. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
Yahoo News. 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
Yahoo News. Archived from the new on 2020-07-09. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
PBS NewsHour. Archived from the earliest on 2018-01-24.
Daytona Beach News-Journal Online.