Deputy Chief Mitchell McKinney

  • Deputy Chief of Police, Fort Wayne Police Department (Active)

  • Leadership Consultant

  • Foundational Leadership Advisory Board

  • Dare to Lead™ Trained

  • Fort Wayne, IN

Deputy Chief Mitchell McKinney began his leadership journey while in college at Ball State University but delayed his graduation due to lack of funds and returned to Fort Wayne, IN. He worked for the Belmont Beverage Stores of Indiana eventually working up to district manager before joining the Fort Wayne Police Department in 1999 where he was commissioned as part of the 52nd basic recruit class and was elected as class spokesman. He worked initially in patrol and quickly went undercover in vice narcotics and eventually transferred to the highway interdiction team and was a member of the Emergency Services Team (SWAT) from 2003-2006 and was named their member of the year in 2006.

He became a Law Enforcement Training Board (LETB) certified instructor in 2005 and completed the training to earn the rights of a senior instructor in 2015 specializing in defensive tactics, ground fighting, emergency vehicle operations and CPR/AED. He served as a staff instructor and supervisor for the 56th, 57th, 60th, 61st and 62nd basic recruit classes.

He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2007 and assigned to patrol and vice narcotics before taking over a supervisory role at the Fort Wayne Academy and then appointed to the rank of Captain in 2018 and currently serves as the director of the community relations division which encompasses the SROs, PIOs, Safety Village, Multi-cultural liaisons, recruitment and community outreach programs. He serves as the supervisor of the Fort Wayne Police Department Pipe and Drum Brigade of which he is a founding member dating back to 2004. He also assists with Honor guard details. Mitch was appointed to the rank of Deputy Chief on April 21, 2021, making him the commander of the Southeast quadrant while maintaining the duties listed above.

McKinney serves as the longest-tenured President (2010-2020) (2022-present) of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Indiana Wayne Lodge 14 (Indiana’s oldest lodge founded in 1918) and also continues to serve as the Diversity, Recruitment and Retention Chairman as part of the Indiana FOP state lodge. He is most proud of his programming with the FOP and Boys and Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne called the Blue Bucket Brigade, now in its fifth year. Deputy Chief McKinney acquired a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2009 and was elected to the Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities.

Deputy Chief McKinney has served or currently serves on several boards in the Fort Wayne area including the Fort Wayne Ballet, Fort Wayne Children’s Choir, Franke Park Day Camp: Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation, Guns N Hoses, Allen County Law Enforcement Firefighter Memorial, McMillen Health, The Mom of an Addict and Concordia Lutheran High School Educational Foundation. He serves as the founder and Executive Director of the local FOP foundation: Leaving a Living Legacy, Inc.

McKinney is dedicated to motivating, activating, communicating and educating with the community on ways to end the violence, engage in community involvement and police recruitment. He is married to Cindy for 28 years with two sons, Jackson (20) and Miles (16). In his spare time, Deputy Chief McKinney enjoys watching the Cubs, the Colts, NASCAR and playing the drums.

DC McKinney’s “Foundational Leadership Why”: I had the pleasure of meeting Sabrina during my boots-on-the-ground efforts in Fort Wayne during the aftermath of the civil unrest that shook our community.  We have started a friendship that has become a powerful bond in the healing process.  It took no convincing for me to join in this collaborative effort.

For more information on how to book DC McKinney to speak at your organization, contact us at: info@problemsi.com