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Surplus responsibilities often render tireless energy a rarity for most individuals, but Mike Chitwood counts as an admirable anomaly. Five decades into his law enforcement vocation, the native of Seventh Street and Oregon Avenue feels as enthused about his endeavors as he did upon his April 6, 1964 entry into the Philadelphia Police Department.
“The path has been rocky at times, but nothing has dissipated,” the 70-year-old Superintendent of Police of the Upper Darby Township Police Department said. “I still have the same passion, the same love for helping people and being part of the solution.”
The Marconi East product has spent the last nine years yearning for answers in Delaware County, the fourth stop in his illustrious career. Possessing “a doctorate in the street,” he credits his longevity mainly to mental fortitude, seeing sagacity as a key in processing human behavior.
“I was raised in a loving but tough environment,” Chitwood said of his maturation, which yielded an unwavering understanding of affection, discipline and structure. “I didn’t see at first how I could apply that to my profession, but quickly into my tenure, I became a champion of the rights of victims.”
The compassionate figure last year decided to chronicle his search for solace amid chaos, teaming with Harold I. Gullan to pen “Tough Cop: Mike Chitwood vs. the Scumbags.” The 177-page brainchild, of which its subject finds himself especially proud for his analysis of terrorism and the future of his field, explores his rise through the ranks of his birth city’s police department, for whom, in his nearly 20-year stint here, he gained renown as a homicide detective. Owing to his ethical and moral upbringing, Chitwood chided the manipulation and mutilation, both literal and figurative, of fellow Philadelphians, persisting as a diligent guardian who would come to collect numerous accolades. Never one to covet publicity, he often appeared on television and in newspapers because of his involvement in high-profile matters, including the January ’81 murder of Nicolette “Nicky” Caserta.
“That was pivotal to my formation,” Chitwood said of the 12-year-old Kensington dweller’s death at the hands of a neighbor. “In addition to the sadness that I felt, I wondered how much more I could contribute to Philadelphia’s crime prevention identity. At age 37, I had a fantasy about being a police chief in one of the top-10 cities in the country. Regardless of how feasible that sounded, I knew, especially because of the Nicky Caserta ordeal, that I wanted a leadership role.”
Two years after the girl’s slaying intensified his quest for perspective, Chitwood landed the title of chief of police for Middletown Township. After a four-and-a-half year block in that role, the Philadelphia-bred law enforcer earned an opportunity to break free from Pennsylvania’s confines and ventured to New England.
“It represented change in many respects but not in the most important one,” Chitwood said of upholding order in Portland, Maine. “No matter where I’ve been, I’ve always desired, no matter what I’m facing, to improve the quality of life for my neighbors.”
The altruistic individual can consider himself blessed in many regards, particularly for having known at an early age where his primary passion rested. Determining as a seventh grader that the preservation of civility would win his favor, Chitwood, thanks to his “loving yet strict household” helmed by parents Marie and Walter, developed fervent adoration to caring about his community. When he became an officer, he had his diligence tested because of his placement in troubled areas, but supportive superiors and commitment to his calling arrested the development of apathy.
“Philadelphia was my town,” Chitwood said of concern for the metropolis. “There was no way I was going to let anyone hijack law-abiding citizens’ livelihood without seeing that they received their due.”
That thinking translated well in handling his Middletown Township tasks and enabled the affable presence to make the transition to top cop in Portland, where, during his 17-year employment, he became so revered that many touted him as a candidate for governor. Certainly not as turbulent as Philadelphia, Portland nonetheless kept Chitwood sharp, and he left the location feeling even more enamored with his call to duty and more reverent of his partners in preventing crime.
“It’s easy to take swipes at police officers,” he said, citing recent national incidents as fodder for the ridicule of all his brethren. “I have always been a firm believer in transparency because if people know that you are truly trying to protect them, chances are all will be well most of the time. I stand by my stance that police officers, by far, go above and beyond the call of duty.”
Since 2005, Chitwood has channeled his ambition to benefit Upper Darby Township denizens and dutifully maintains his physical well-being, courtesy of early morning gym jaunts, to complement his cerebral acuity.
“The bottom line is that I love what I’m doing,” he said of logging untold hours to have justice triumph over jaded beliefs that society is crumbling and that bad guys, or, in his vocabulary, “scumbags,” will emerge victorious. “I’ve always been about treating others the way I’ve wanted to be treated. If there’s a gospel according to Mike Chitwood, that’s it.”
In addition to sharing that message with colleagues, Chitwood revels in promoting positivity with wife Liz, daughter Beth Ann and son Mike Jr., chief of police for the Daytona Beach Police Department. He approved the writing of “Tough Cop” to give them a token of his appreciation for their love and affirmation of his gratitude for standing by him, warts and all. As he prepares to commence his 51st year nabbing ne’er-do-wells, he is quick to ponder his legacy but is definitely not yearning to part with his pursuit of accord.
“I’m only 10 years away from 60,” Chitwood said, smiling. “I am going to keep going for as long as possible. I am very, very happy with what I’m doing.”
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Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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