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Chief David Mitchell Receives Tribute for Over 40 years of Public Service

Chief Mitchell is receiving a tribute today from the Public Safety Leadership Association for his extensive and multi-faceted career and breadth of law enforcement experience.  Law enforcement leaders including MSP Superintendent Brown and Prince George's County Police Chief Mark Magaw were in attendance as Chief Mitchell was recognized by the Public Safety Leadership Association.

The law enforcement career of David B. Mitchell spans four decades. His career began in 1971 as a Police Officer in Prince George's County, Maryland. He worked his way up the ranks, and in 1990 was appointed Chief of Police. For the next five years, he led the 38th largest police department in the nation, serving a population of over 750,000 people. In 1995, Governor Parris Glendening appointed Dave Mitchell to his cabinet as the Superintendent of the Maryland State Police. As Superintendent, he led the seventh largest state police department in the nation for eight years, including during the 9-11 attacks in 2001 and the DC Sniper case in 2003.

After retiring from the State Police, Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner appointed Dave as the Secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security in 2004. For the next five years, he led a department of over 1,000 employees to provide for the safety and security of Delaware's citizens and property using an "All Hazards and All Citizens Approach."

Today, Dave Mitchell is the Director of Public Safety & Chief of Police for the University of Maryland, College Park. As such, he leads over 200 personnel, serving a population of 60,000 students and staff at the University of Maryland's flagship campus.

In 1981 Dave graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in Technology and Management from the University of Maryland, University College. In 1986 he earned his master's degree in Public Policy (Financial Management) from the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. In 1996 Dave earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. He is admitted to the Maryland and District of Columbia Bar Associations.

Dave is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy (154th session) and the FBI National Executive Institute (1991).

Dave is an Adjunct Professor at the Johns Hopkins University, Division of Public Safety Leadership, University of Maryland, and the University of Maryland, University College.

Please join us in congratulating Chief Mitchell on his outstanding accomplishments and commitment to public service!

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