Richard H. "Dick" Witt 71 a career law enforcement officer died July 23 at his Ormond Beach home of complications from cancer. A Celebration of life will be held Tuesday July 31 at Lohman Funeral Home 733 W. Granada Blvd. Ormond Beach Florida with a family visitation from 1 pm to 2 pm and a memorial service at 2 p.m.Witt's career as a police chief and law enforcement officer in Florida spanned over 5 decades. Dick was born in New York City on March 6 1936 to Richard H. Witt Sr. and Rose Witt. Shortly after World War II Witt's family moved to Miami where he was raised and graduated from Miami Edison High School in 1953. After attending the University of Florida for 2 years Witt entered the US Air Force and upon discharge in 1959 became a member of the Miami Police Department.
During his more than 26 years with the Miami Police Witt rose through the ranks retiring as an Assistant Police Chief. Dick was a fighter for law enforcement throughout the state and country. He served as the President of Miami's Police Union the President of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge # 20 as State President of the Florida Fraternal Order of Police and then as the Vice President of the National Fraternal Order of Police. He also was an elected employee representative to Miami's Civil Service Board and an officer of the Miami Police Benevolent Association.
In 1986 after retirement from the Miami Police Department Witt was named the Chief of Police for the City of Hollywood Florida where he served outstandingly for the next 10 years. During this time he was elected as the President of The Broward County Chiefs of Police. After being ousted in 1996 as Chief in Hollywood due to a hiring scandal that he had discovered and was pursuing he became the Chief of Police of Golden Beach. In 1998 Dick and his wife Betty made the decision to retire to Ormond Beach in Volusia County. Retired about a year and one half Witt was plucked from retirement in September 1999 to serve as the Interim Police Chief for New Smyrna Beach. He completed that duty in June 2000 and returned once again to retirement. But at the beginning of 2005 he was called upon once again to serve as an Interim Police Chief this time for 3 months for the City of Flagler Beach.
Witt held a Bachelor's Degree from Barry University and a Master's Degree in Management from St. Thomas University. Locally Witt was a member of the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Moose Lodge# 1263. Dick was a lifetime member of the Fraternal Order of Police The Broward County Chiefs of Police the Florida State Police Chiefs Association and The International Association of Chiefs of Police and a member of the Oleeta-West Dade Masonic Lodge #145.
Witt is survived by his adored wife Betty his loving sister Sarita West of Oklawaha Florida and 3 daughters: RandyLee Watters of Tallahassee RickiLynn Braswell of Tallahassee Stephanie Witt of Orlando and a step-daughter Amanda Harvey of Orlando. He is also survived by his son-in-law Mark and his 3 grandchildren Joshua Logan and Savannah Braswell. The family asks in lieu of flowers donations in his memory be sent to the Volusia County Hospice at 555 W. Granada Blvd. Ormond Beach Florida 32174 (386) 673-7770 or to the American Cancer Society.