"He'll hold a press conference on jaywalking," one source said.
He held one to demonstrate the effect of a stun gun - on himself - which elicited that explicit aforementioned quote.
He openly refers to suspects as "scums," "bums" or, if he's really pissed, "scum bums."
To some, like Radnor Police Superintendent William Colarulo, a former chief inspector in Philadelphia, Chitwood "epitomizes police professionalism."
"He is absolutely the real deal, and he is ageless," Colarulo said. "He's the kind of a guy, like a famous baseball player, people will compare others to him. That will be his legacy."
But not everyone is down with that Chit.
People, especially cops, give him nicknames like "Media Mike," "Yosemite Sam," "Dirty Harry," "Jackass" and the "TMZ Police."
And in the six years since Chitwood became superintendent of the Upper Darby police, the crazy circus seems to have rolled into town. From the pizzeria owner who allegedly planted mice in his competitors' ceilings to the man who drowned his lover's Pomeranian and placed it in a cooking pan with spices, the crime stories Chitwood publicizes make reporters salivate.
Yet Chitwood's numerous ardent supporters haven't been deterred, even though his language and relish for the spotlight have drawn some negative publicity to the 7.9-square-mile township of 83,000, where reported incidents of violent crime have increased 58 percent under his tenure.
Center stage
Over his 47-year career, Chitwood has always found himself in the media spotlight, whether he's talking down hostage-takers or finding the body of Holly Maddux in killer Ira Einhorn's closet.
In 19 years as a Philly cop, he spent time in narcotics, homicide and hostage negotiation, earning more than 70 commendations.
