I have to hand it to Mike Chitwood.
The top cop in Upper Darby can flat-out work it.
Most cops don’t especially like the limelight; Chitwood revels in it.
A lot of local cops would have sat on that videotape showing a gang of Upper Darby High kids bullying a smaller, younger kid. Not Chitwood. He released the video to the media, and then watched as an army of reporters made their way to his door.
This week he was at it again, and once again Upper Darby was enjoying the national limelight.
Although I’m not sure “limelight” is exactly the right word.
Chitwood revealed the details of what he referred to as “food terrorism by mice.”
A flurry of headlines followed, along with a small army of TV vans.
Chitwood announced he was filing charges against a pizza shop owner for turning loose several mice in two competing businesses.
Smell a rat? So did Chitwood.
Yesterday the top cop led a contingent of township officials to one of the targeted pizza joints in a show of support.
He wolfed down a few slices along with Councilman Jack Shingle, Chief Administrative Officer Tom Judge Jr., and Mayor Tom Micozzie.
The group was looking to send a message, and they didn’t mind using the media to do it.
Of course we complied. We have a full story, photos and video on the lunch visit on our website and in the newspaper today. You can see the video here.
They were worried that the two targets of Nikolas Galiatsatos, Verona’s Pizza and Uncle Nick’s Pizzeria, on West Chester Pike, might be facing an image problem, with people worried that mice had been turned loose in their establishments. Galiatsatos owns the competing Nina Bella’s Pizzeria nearby.
The township brass wanted the public to know they’re not afraid to eat at the two establishments. Yesterday they dined at Verona’s, Friday they will visit Uncle Nick’s.
Somehow, I don’t see officials in a lot of towns doing what Chitwood and his pals in Upper Darby did.
A lot of his fellow law enforcement types don’t especially care for the way Chitwood does his job, and the attention we shower on him.
That’s too bad. I’d like to give them the same treatment.
But it’s a two-way street.
Why not give it a shot, folks? I can be an equal opporunity publicist.
Of mice and men? Why not?
Or more likely, High Crimes and Mice-demeanors.
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