- December 3, 2024
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Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood is hoping the 2024 elections win him a third term in office.
Chitwood announced Tuesday, June 20, on the steps of the historic Volusia County Courthouse that he would be running for reelection. He filed for candidacy on Friday, June 16.
As he stood in front of the courthouse, joined by members of the Volusia Sheriff's Office, community leaders, his parents and Sen. Tom Wright, Chitwood said he has two missions going forward.
"Mission number one is fighting for, protecting and serving this community that I love called Volusia County," he said. "The second part of that mission is fighting for, advocating and serving the men and women — a lot of them you see behind me — that make up the Volusia Sheriff's Office."
Chitwood was first elected in 2016, then reelected without opposition in 2020. So far, no one has filed to run against him.
Before he was elected, Chitwood was the police chief for Daytona Beach from 2006-2016. He began his law enforcement career in 1988 in the Philadelphia Police Department.
During his announcement, Chitwood touted the more than 179 hires he's added to VSO since he was elected, as well as his agency's de-escalation training, which he said has resulted in 50% fewer use-of-force incidents. He also highlighted VSO's 60% clearance rate. Clearance rates refer to the percentage of crimes a law enforcement agency solves.
Speakers at the announcement included members of the Jewish community, who praised Chitwood for his battle against antisemitism.
Rabbi Ron Lennick, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties, said that in his 45 years of community involvement, he's never met a person who better embodies the qualities of "the grace of a generation" — someone who stands up for righteousness, fairness, decency and justice.
"He's a man of courage, a man of principle, a man of action, a man of flair and style," Lennick said. "He is strong and firm and kind and compassionate. He is a man for all seasons — one of the greats of our generation."
