Chief Keith Porch Announces His Retirement from Mansfield Division of Police

Joe Lyons • February 23, 2024

Keith Porch began his career with the Division in 1999 as a Patrol Officer in the Community Service Bureau. In April of 2007, he became a Detective with METRICH/S.I.U. Promoted to Sergeant in 2009, he returned to the Community Service Bureau until October of 2012. He was reassigned to METRICH/S.I.U. until May of 2013 when he was promoted to Lieutenant. He served as the METRICH Commander until March of 2014.

    MPD Chief Keith Porch

Porch was promoted to Assistant Chief of Police in March of 2014 where he gained a broad understanding of many aspects of how our Police Department functions both administratively and operationally. On April 9, 2019 Assistant Chief of Police Keith Porch was offered and accepted the position of Chief of Police. Chief Keith Porch took the official Oath of Office on April 10, 2019. He replaced Chief Kenneth Coontz who officially retired on April 5, 2019.

As Chief of Police, Porch served as the Project Director for the METRICH Enforcement Unit and Chairman to the Richland County Opiate Board, along with providing leadership through the re-accreditation process from the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies. Chief Porch was able to advance the Division in many areas of technology to assist officers and non-sworn staff with their duties and training.

Prior to joining the Mansfield Division of Police, Chief Porch served the residents of Richland County as a Richland County Sheriff Deputy for five years.

On February 27, 2024 Chief Keith Porch will retire from his duties with the Mansfield Division of Police to assume the duties of the Safety Service Director for the City of Mansfield on February 28, 2024. He has our congratulations upon his retirement and our heartfelt thanks for his many years of loyal service. We wish him good luck and the greatest success in his new position.