MANSFIELD — An 18-year-old Keith Porch timidly entered Sheriff James Stierhoff’s office for an interview in October 1994. He didn’t like his chances of becoming the sheriff’s next hire for deputy.

“There were like 10 other guys there that day,” Porch said with distant eyes and a faint smile. “I didn’t have a chance in the world.”

Porch remembered his shaking, sweaty palms as he was drilled with typical interview questions.

“Why do you think you have what it takes?” “Why should the Richland County Sheriff’s Office hire you?”

As the door shut behind him, Porch knew he’d blown the interview.

“My next step was to get into the military and become a helicopter pilot. I was already thinking about going after that,” Porch said.

The teenager waited in the department’s hallway just outside The Man’s office while other candidates took their turn. Porch remembers that crowd looking older, much more qualified, and better trained.

“But then he came out that door and he looked at me and he said, ‘You’re going to be my next guy,’” Porch said. “I can’t even tell you how much joy came over me. I mean I probably had tears streaming down my face.”

Porch said he went home that night and told his parents the news, who rejoiced because they understood how important it was to their son to begin living his dream.

A career

Later this year, Porch will add on to his already successful career when he completes the 10-week intensive and prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

In a gritty, three-year application process, only 2 percent of all applicants and nominees from agencies around the world are accepted into the FBI’s program.

Porch was accepted in eight months.

“I think it was because of my current rank,” Porch said modestly.

Porch always knew he wanted to serve and protect in either a blue or military uniform; 22 years later, he’s done just that, in blue. He worked his way up through the ranks and has not looked back.

He started as a deputy at the Richland County Sheriff’s Department in 1994. He served as a deputy for five years until moving on to the Mansfield Police Department as a patrol officer in 1999. Just 10 years later, he was promoted to sergeant and then again as lieutenant and METRICH Commander in 2013. Chief Ken Coontz and Mayor Tim Theaker then promoted him to Assistant Chief in 2014.

That fateful day in Stierhoff’s office gave him the confidence and the affirmation that law enforcement was his career path.

“I can honestly say that not one day has ever felt like work,” Porch said.

The FBI National Academy

Known as the “West Point for Law Enforcement,” the National Academy is a professional development course for U.S. and international law enforcement leaders. The course has attracted nearly 220 trainees for 10 weeks out of the year since 1972.

Law enforcement leaders have the ability to choose from many different courses. Porch’s curriculum is as follows:

  • Legal Issues for Command-Level Officers
  • Fitness in Law Enforcement
  • Overview for Forensic Science for Police Administrators and Managers
  • Legal Issues Impacting Law Enforcement Operations
  • Drugs, Society, and Contemporary Drug Enforcement Strategies, Critical Incident Leadership: Crisis Negotiations
  • National Academy Networking and Engagement

During the 10-week interim, he said other captains and Coontz will share his job responsibilities, which include oversight of METRICH, the department’s radio room, the records division, patrol operations and the detective’s bureau.

Theaker said Porch’s trip to the FBI National Academy is a great opportunity.

“It’s a supreme place to go. That’s why we try to promote people to do that,” Theaker said.

The mayor noted that a handful of local officials have attended the academy over the years. 

“Porch is an individual that excels in any job he does. He’s personable, knowledgeable and a go-getter just like (Chief) Coontz,” Theaker said. “He’ll learn a lot of things that he’ll bring back home.”

Although Porch has around eight years experience in the administrative side of law enforcement, he maintains a humble attitude.

“March 3 will be the start of my second year as Assistant Chief,” Porch said. “And I can always use further training.

“I believe we should never stop learning and do what we can to get up to date training. And that’s what this is.”

Part of the school’s draw is the chance to meet other law enforcement leaders from around the world.

Mansfield is home

His home — his heart — is here.

As a Police Academy student at North Central State College, Porch imagined himself working for larger departments like Columbus and Los Angeles.

“I had the same outlook as all young guys going in to law enforcement. I wanted to save the world,” he said.

Later in his career, he applied to the Ohio State Highway Patrol and just about joined — twice. He was offered a job in Canton before joining the MPD. Some of the wanderlust was motivated by a desire to make a better salary, some of it by a desire to be a cop.

“But money isn’t everything,” he said, leaning in his seat at his paper-piled desk. “And I’ve been involved in any of what you’d see at any of those other larger departments. I’ve seen it all here.”

Porch has seen gun fights, participated in them, gotten shot at with a shotgun, an arrow from a bow and wrestled individuals on the road over unwanted speeding tickets. He’s even had to arrest some of his high school peers — he graduated from Mansfield Senior.

In those rough days, he has often asked himself, “Did I make the right decision?”

“I don’t regret it,” he said. “And I don’t intend on leaving.”

He said he owes it to the people in Mansfield and acknowledged his first boss: Sheriff Stierhoff.

“I would’ve done the job for a dollar-an-hour back when I was 18 years old,” Porch said, with a long pause. “But he took that risk with me. Unbelievable. I’m so fortunate.”