Mitchell: I Have "Big Shoes To Fill" As Canton Police Chief

For Assistant Chief Mark Mitchell, continuing to build upon the foundation Canton Police Chief Robert Merchant has created will be his primary goal when he formally succeeds his boss on Jan. 1.

Mitchell communicated that message earlier this week when City Manager Glen Cummins announced he’s chosen him to succeed Merchant, who announced earlier this month he plans to retire at the end of the year.

Cummins said his style of management involves promoting people within agencies if they are capable enough to do the job. The city manager said he found that capability in Mitchell, and the choice will provide the city and the department with a ”seamless and transparent” transition from one chief to the next.

“I’m extremely pleased with this police department that we have now,” Cummins said.

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

Mitchell said he understand he has “big shoes to fill” in his new role, referring to the man who hired him in July 2013 to serve as assistant police chief.

“The chief in the last 16 months has been a heck of a mentor,” he said.

Merchant was chosen to head the Canton Police Department by former City Manager Scott Wood in May 2012, and started work in the post a month later. He came to a department in the aftermath of widespread criticism of how the agency handled the December 2011 kidnapping and murder of Jorelys Rivera, which led the resignation of former Chief Jeff Lance.

Mitchell said he wants to continue Merchant’s implementation of the agency’s focus on community policing, as well utilizing the necessary training that will help officers serve and protect Canton residents.

“We have dedicated and hardworking employees in this agency,” Mitchell added. “They go out everyday, sacrifice their time and energy to improve quality of life for citizens. I count this as a team and I want to continue to move forward as a team.”

Mitchell also said he wants to continue to encourage officers to further their education and develop initiatives to retain the officers they have.

Mitchell’s predecessor already believes he’s up to the job. Merchant said Mitchell was an integral part of the process to develop the department’s mission and core set of values.

“He is well respected by the employees,” he added. “He leads by example and he displays a strong work ethic. I believe he displays the confidence needed to face the toughest leadership challenges.”

One of the agency’s goals for the current fiscal year is to establish what’s called a career track, Merchant said.

Canton police’s command staff is working on an initiative that would allow officers to be promoted to various ranks, such as senior police office or master officer. That, the current chief said, would prepare officers to assume leadership roles in the future.

Merchant also said Mitchell supports a mandate he implemented when he came to town. That plan would require anyone wanting to become a sergeant to obtain at least a two-year college degree starting in 2017. They would need at least a four-year college degree for the rank of lieutenant, the chief said.

“Mark promotes harmony and teamwork,” Merchant continued. “In every group situation I have placed him in, he has excelled. But make no mistake; he is fully capable of making the tough decisions and he will stand by his decisions. I would use the following adjectives to describe Mark: he is dependable, determined, energetic, forward-looking, hands-on, meticulous and progressive. But, most of all, he sets the example for others to follow.”

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, Virginia.

Mitchell, 43, and wife Mandy reside in Canton and he is the father of four children.

Mitchell said he wants to continue the agency on a path of being a transparent and professional organization Canton residents can be proud of.

“Our goal would be to have the most professional, community connected and transparent agency in this area and in the state eventually,” he said. Saying it one thing and doing it is another. I want us all to move forward and work as a team to do it.”

Photo: Mark Mitchell. Credit: Canton Police Department