Deb Mitchell profile piece

Deb Mitchell
Crime Prevention Specialist and Public Safety Sargent Deb Mitchell, better known as "Deb," is the only female officer on Umaine’s police force. But, even if this weren’t the case, Sgt. Mitchell is known across campus and around the Orono area as a hard-working, inspirational person who shows that any forty-something year old Mainer really can make a difference. “I love my job. I love being able to make a difference each day.” And, indeed, Mitchell has been doing this for the past 26 years when she joined the police force as a teenager in 1984. Having been inspired by her grandfather who also served as a police officer, Mitchell says she knew she wanted to join the force as early as four years of age- despite her grandfather dying before she was born. “He had a very big influence on me and really inspired me to make a difference.” Currently, Mitchell says that she sees herself as being more of a mother to the students and the university and while she doesn’t know how long she will continue to work as an officer, she loves the work. “I think it’s really kept me young, I’ve never felt better.”