David Mitchell to Lead University of Maryland Police

Former county chief brings leadership, experience, and familiarity to the challenge.

	Former Prince George's County Police Chief David B. Mitchell is the new Director of Public Safety at the University of Maryland. A graduate of the School of Public Policy, he was named the school's Alumnus of the Year three years ago

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland announced today that David B. Mitchell, former Prince George's County Police Chief, will become its new Director of Public Safety and Chief of the University of Maryland Police Department. Mitchell brings more than 39 years of public safety experience, having served in three police departments in two states, including 24 years with the Prince George's County Police Department.

Mitchell will lead a fully-sworn professional law enforcement organization that employs more than 150 officers and support staff, providing a complete array of law enforcement and related services to a university community of approximately 60,000 members, including a student population of 32,700.

UM police officers are state certified and have all the same powers and authority as any other sworn police officer in Maryland; each officer is empowered by state law to make arrests, investigate crimes, and carry firearms. In addition, the University of Maryland Department of Public Safety is the primary agency responsible for policing property owned, operated, leased by, or under the control of the University of Maryland. The agency also provides police services to areas off campus through a concurrent jurisdiction agreement with the Prince George's County Police.

"David has a record of exceptional leadership as Prince George's County Police Chief, State Police superintendent and State Secretary of the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security," said Ann G. Wylie, Vice President of Administrative Affairs. "He is a well-respected voice on public safety in the community and across the state; he knows the university; has deep roots in the community; and he is a University of Maryland alumnus and the parent of an UM alum."

Mitchell brings a strong familiarity with the complexities of the interactions among the city, university and county, as well as an array of skills and knowledge regarding police, fire, and EMS that a large campus needs to protect and serve its population. In addition, Mitchell is well-versed in special needs populations, having specialized in disability law en route to completing his juris doctor degree and overseeing the Council on Disabilities for the State of Delaware.

"I am honored to be selected as Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police for my alma mater," said Mitchell. "I look forward to protecting and serving the University community during the bright future that lies ahead."

Mitchell is currently an adjunct professor in public safety leadership and consultant to The Johns Hopkins University. Previously, Mitchell was Secretary of the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security, where he was the primary member of the Governor's Cabinet responsible for homeland security. He supervised six divisions comprising more than 1,000 employees with an annual budget of $100 million.

He also served as Superintendent of the Maryland State Police, leading the activities of the seventh largest state law enforcement agency in the nation, with more than 2,500 employees and an annual budget of $295 million. As Prince George's County Police Chief, Mitchell led all activities of the 32nd largest police department in the nation with -- at that time -- more than 1,700 employees.

Mitchell will officially take the helm on June 7th, following the December 2009 retirement of Kenneth Krouse, who served as University of Maryland Chief of Police for 20 years.

David Mitchell at a Glance

Education: Associate of Arts degree, Law Enforcement (Prince George's Community College); Bachelor of Science degree, Technology Management (University of Maryland University College), Master of Public Policy degree, Financial Management, (University of Maryland, College Park); Juris Doctor, University of Maryland School of Law.

Member: Maryland and District of Columbia Bar Associations, Life Member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Teaching Experience: Police Executive Leadership Program (adjunct professor, Johns Hopkins University); Yale Gordon College Of Liberal Arts (adjunct professor, University of Baltimore); Government Executive Institute (instructor, University of Maryland College Park); Institute of Criminal Justice and Criminology (adjunct professor, University of Maryland College Park); Criminal Justice Program (adjunct faculty, Prince George's Community College).

Community Service: Founded MD Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors and Co-Founder of the COPS Ride; Former Chairman of the Board of Special Olympics of Maryland and Co-Founder of the MSP Polar Bear Plunge; Director Combined Community Campaign of Maryland (2000); Past President, Kiwanis Club of Prince George's County.

Family: Three children.

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