Keith Mitchell of Pembroke has lived in Merrimack County for over 26 years. He is the former Deputy Chief of the Concord Police Department and currently works for the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office. As a law enforcement officer for more than 32 years, Keith has always taken tremendous pride in his sworn duty to protect and serve his community.

Mitchell rose through the ranks from patrol officer to Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division and ultimately retired as the Deputy Chief of Operations. Keith has logged countless hours of training but more importantly, he has years of practical experience serving the Capitol City. During his years of service to the community he has received numerous commendations and awards that include Police Officer of the Year and the New Hampshire Congressional Award.

Keith and his wife Laura, have two grown children and recently welcomed their first grandchild. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts. Prior to becoming a law enforcement officer Keith worked with special needs students for a number of years in a public-school system.

Mitchell has been active in the community both professionally and personally. He has supported numerous community partnerships during his career to include the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness. He has been a member of the YMCA for over 50 years and served on the Concord Family YMCA Board of Directors. Keith has also coached youth baseball and basketball in his community.

In his spare time Keith enjoys spending time with his family, working out and riding his motorcycle. One of Keith’s favorite hobbies is fishing the New England coast.

My Platform:

I am running for election as your Sheriff for Merrimack County. I believe that public safety services should be provided in a professional, fair and impartial manner. An elected Sheriff’s duties are to all of the County’s citizens regardless of race, religion, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, politics or opinion.

I am gaining support for my candidacy because of my professionalism and character.

It is my desire to serve our community and give back as your Sheriff.  My reason for seeking the Office of the Sheriff is to make Merrimack County a safer place for all of us to live and raise families.  Let there be no mistake, I am aware of the current challenges facing law enforcement. It is now more important than ever that effective law enforcement leaders possess the desire and ability to recognize deficiencies, make difficult choices and be prepared to make sometimes unpopular decisions to effect positive change. The object is to enhance professionalism and the service provided to the public.  I have the leadership, education, training, experience and track record of positive accomplishments to confront these challenges and make the County a safer place. The Sheriff’s Office will be ethically sound, integrity driven and completely transparent.

The foundation of any law enforcement agency is its personnel.  Currently there is a shortage of law enforcement officers in many communities. The Sheriff’s Office will make it a priority to hire and retain good, qualified deputies who want to make law enforcement a career and who have a vested interest in its success.

The Sheriff’s Office must also provide the equipment, tools and training necessary so that deputies can effectively serve the communities of Merrimack County and do it safely. I will make it my priority to ensure that the department’s policies and procedures are relevant and up to date.

The Sheriff’s Office needs to engage its communities and form partnerships with not only its residents but with the agencies that serve the community. Local community engagement and outreach will be a priority. The Sheriff’s Office will be involved in programs like the Merrimack County Drug Court, Concord Coalition to End Homelessness and National Alliance on Mental Health.

The Sheriff’s Office will be developed as a “go to” agency for law enforcement services. The Office will partner with other law enforcement agencies in the County to provide valuable resources to assist in patrol activities and criminal investigations as needed. Targeted areas that will be established or expanded will include computer crime and domestic violence investigations. An active County established Traffic Accident Reconstruction team will be a priority.

My platform is simple: Provide the residents of Merrimack County with the services they expect and deserve to feel safe. I plan to accomplish this goal through leadership, backed by partnerships and cooperation. I will be accountable to the residents of our County and be fully transparent. If elected, it will be an honor to serve as your Sheriff and I thank you for your support.