In 2024, Chitwood received national attention for perp walking and posting mugshots of children who had been arrested.[9] His actions were characterized by Kelly McBride of the Poynter Institute as "vindictive" and a "publicity stunt harmful to children".[10][11][12]
Chitwood served in the Philadelphia Police Department from 1988 to 2005, attaining the rank of lieutenant. He worked patrol and then narcotics before becoming a detective. He then served as chief of police of the Shawnee, Oklahoma, Police Department from 2005 to 2006.
Daytona Beach Police Department
Chitwood joined the Daytona Beach Police Department as police chief in 2006, where he worked for ten years until he resigned in November 2016.[13][4] He had a deeply controversial tenure while leading the department.[14] He was succeeded as chief of police by Deputy Chief Craig Capri.[15]
Controversies
Chitwood's tenure as police chief was continually mired in controversy. In one incident, Chitwood referred to Volusia County sheriff Ben Johnson as a "moron" during a public meeting.[16] Sheriff Johnson said through a spokesman he would not dignify Chitwood's insult with a comment.[17]
On December 20, 2007, Daytona Beach police officer Claudia Wright tasered Best Buy customer Elizabeth Beeland in front of a store full of customers. A store clerk had called police thinking Beeland was using a stolen credit card, which turned out not to be the case. Beeland was backing away from Wright when she was tasered. Police Chief Mike Chitwood defended his officer's actions.[18] Wright was also investigated for interfering in a narcotics investigation in 2009. Wright was arrested in 2010 on three felony charges for fraud and forgery for allegedly defrauding her own grandmother.[19]
In 2012, patrol supervisor Jim Newcomb was promoted to the position of captain. This promotion was met objections from the police union over his controversial past, which includes the wrongful firing of a lesbian officer and year-long harassment of another female officer.[20]
After a heavily publicized incident on the campus of the historically black Bethune–Cookman University, in which DBPD chief Chitwood was alleged to have made racist comments, the NAACP asked US attorney general Eric Holder to probe Chitwood’s "racially tinged" comments about the disturbance. A recent spate of murders in the black community, including the death of a 13-year-old boy who was shot in the face, have led some to blame the DBPD's moving the police headquarters from Orange Avenue, in the black community, to Valor Boulevard, in a culturally-mixed suburban area of Daytona Beach. When asked about the possibility of placing a police substation in the area, Chitwood responded that substations were "a monument for cops to sit on their ass and don’t do anything".[5]
Sheriff of Volusia County
In January 2016, incumbent Volusia County sheriff Ben Johnson announced his retirement at the end of his current term. Chitwood immediately announced that he would run for sheriff. Then he said he wouldn't, pledging to remain as police chief. Then, on March 14, he announced his candidacy, again. In August 2016, Chitwood narrowly defeated former Pasco Countysheriff James E. Gillum and three others in the Republican primary for Volusia County sheriff. As there was no Democratic challenger, Chitwood became Sheriff-elect until assuming office on January 1, 2017.[21][22] He was re-elected unopposed to a second term in 2020.[23] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chitwood strongly advocated vaccine mandates.[8] He also gave additional days off to deputies who were vaccinated.[24]
Chitwood was re-elected to a third term in 2024, defeating Republican opponent James Powers.[25] The Volusia CountyRepublican Party did not support Powers due to his criminal record.[26]
Controversies
After the state-wide referendum, Amendment 10, the VolusiaCounty Council voted 6-1 to stay the amendment temporarily. Chitwood, a leading proponent of Amendment 10, called the Councilmembers "scumbags" and accused them of corruption. He allegedly contacted the FBI about his concerns, however, Chitwood refused to provide any details and the FBI did not confirm the meeting occurred.[27]
In 2021, Chitwood established his own training academy for recruits of the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, rather than sending them to the state training academy all other recruits in Florida attend.[28][29]
Chitwood endorsed auto salesman Randy Dye, father of stock car racing driver Daniel Dye, for Volusia County Council chair in 2024. In November 2024, incumbent Volusia County chairJeff Brower accused Chitwood of being a "bully" and called for "a new sheriff". In response Chitwood called Brower "feckless [and] ineffective".[30] Brower defeated Dye in the general election despite being significantly outspent in the campaign.[31]
Notable events
In 2017, Chitwood began implementing reformist measures to reduce the size and scope of law enforcement in Volusia County. Since then, he implemented classes on gender and racial bias in policing. He also decreased weapon proficiency in the training of new recruits.[13][32]
In 2020, Chitwood implemented a crisis intervention training for new officers in Volusia County with the goal of decreasing use-of-force and eliminating the "warrior mentality" in police operations. The project was influenced by the Obama Foundation affiliated, Scottish police reform group; Police Executive Research Forum (PERF).[33][34][35] In the same period, he equipped detectives and the SWAT team of Volusia County with body cameras while drastically increasing the use of SWAT, leading to what many consider the militarization of police.[36]
Early in 2023, anti-Jewish banners were held by neo-Nazi group Goyim Defense League at the Daytona International Speedway. Chitwood responded to the group at press conferences and on social media.[37][38][4][39] Anonymous death threats were made against Chitwood on 4chan. Police agencies opened an investigation resulting in the arrests of three people outside the state of Florida, one of whom was in possession of firearms and ammunition.[37][4] In late 2023, an Alaskan double-murder suspect was indicted by a grand jury after allegedly threatening to "blind and kill" Chitwood.[40][41] In total, six men have been arrested in 2023 over alleged threats directed at the sheriff.[42]
Chitwood was married to his then-wife Jane. They had three daughters before they divorced. She died in September 2016.[22] Chitwood lives in Port Orange, Florida and is a non-practicing Catholic.[4]
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