Volusia County's current and future sheriffs came together Wednesday for a meeting and to talk about what comes next.
- Mike Chitwood met Ben Johnson Wednesday
- Chitwood won the Volusia County Sheriff election
- Johnson is retiring
Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood was elected Volusia County Sheriff Tuesday night, winning 51 percent of the vote.
Chitwood replaces retiring sheriff Ben Johnson. But Chitwood was not Johnson's choice for the role.
Chitwood initially said he would not run for sheriff, then changed his mind, becoming the last candidate to enter the race.
Johnson had already endorsed a sheriff's office employee. He says he stands behind his choice, but that Chitwood was the people's choice, and he supports that.
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Chitwood is getting office space in the sheriff's office building for his transition team.
Chitwood says he will take some of Johnson’s existing programs and do for the county what he did for Daytona Beach -- modernize policing in Volusia County.
“The real-time crime center. Ben just started it. So it's up there and running," Chitwood said. "We’re going to take that thing and put it on steroids, move it out to 2.0. Because he’s got dispatch, he’s got the infrasctucture that we could put this thing out countywide, increase the odds of catching the bad guy, and keep the officers, deputies safe at the same time.”
Chitwood said he will also push for increased diversity by hiring more minorities on the force.
Johnson gave Chitwood a gift Wednesday -- a new uniform.
Johnson joked Chitwood would have to get used to wearing green over blue.
Chitwood starts in January.