Canton Police Department Names New Assistant Chief

The Canton Police Department will soon have a new assistant chief.

The department announced Monday that it has hired Mark Mitchell of the Newton County Sheriff's Office to fill the assistant chief position, which has been vacant since the August, 2012 firing of Todd Vande Zande. 

Mitchell will report for duty on July 22 and receive an official swearing-in on July 25.

Mitchell has been in law enforcement for over 20 years, starting as a patrol deputy with the Newton County Sheriff's Office in 1992 and working his way through the ranks and becoming a Captain of the Uniform Division in 2012. He was also the commander of the county's SWAT team for the last six years. 

He has a master's degree in criminal justice from Troy University and graduated from the 207th Session of the FBI National Academy.

“Mitchell has constantly displayed a high level of personal integrity and demonstrated an exceptional mastery of professional skills.  He has a calm and even temperament and is known for his high level of energy and enthusiasm for the job," said Chief Robert Merchant.

"I am truly honored and humbled to have been chosen for this position," Mitchell said. 

"I want to help this department to continue to build an organization of which the citizens can be extremely proud, trust and fully recognize that we will be out there everyday dedicated and committed to fulfilling the department's mission of improving the quality of life for the people of Canton."

Mitchell has been married for seven years and has four children, the youngest of whom is 16 months old.