Canton Names New Police Chief

A familiar face will soon take over the Canton Police Department.

Canton City Manager Glen Cummins has tapped Assistant Chief Mark Mitchell to succeed Police Chief Robert Merchant, who will retire at the end of the year.

Cummins made the announcement during a press conference Tuesday morning at Canton City Hall. Mitchell was chosen by an advisory committee made up of himself, Mayor Gene Hobgood, City Council member John Rust and Merchant.

Mitchell, 43, was hired by Merchant in July 2013 to serve as the city’s assistant police chief. Mitchell began his career in law enforcement with the Newton County Sheriff’s Office.

In 1996, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant where he supervised deputies in the Uniform Patrol Division, D.A.R.E, courthouse security and criminal investigations. Mitchell was promoted to lieutenant over the patrol unit in 2005 and to the rank of first lieutenant executive officer as the assistant Uniform Division commander.

In 2011, Mark was named commander of the Criminal Investigation Division, the unit he led until he was promoted to the rank of captain in 2012.

During his tenure with the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, Mark Mitchell also served 16 years as the agency’s public information officer and was a member of the Newton County S.W.A.T. team.

Mitchell obtained his master’s degree in criminal justice from Troy University and graduated from the 207th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.

Mitchell and wife Mandy reside in Canton and is the father of four children.

Photo: Mark Mitchell. Credit: Canton Police Department