Elbert “Malik” Mitchell III was born on October 2, 1971 in Orange, NJ.  He attended the Orange public schools until 1986 when he was robbed at gunpoint of his coat and sneakers.  His family moved to a small town in Clarksville VA, where he graduated from Blue Stone High School in June of 1988.  After graduation, he worked various jobs at Umstead Hospital and County Sheriff’s Office as a Detention Officer.  He joined the Durham Police Dept. in 1997 and moved through the ranks  from Recruit, Police Officer I & II, Investigator and then to Corporal in April 2006.  He served with honor in many capacities within the Durham Police Dept. including the Crime Area Target Team (CATT), Criminal Investigations and as a Field Training Officer.  His enthusiasm for public safety and public service is further demonstrated by his recent work as a District I Investigator, support of the district’s “We As One” initiative and the Partners Against Crime program.  Malik was committed to higher education and was an Honor Student and Student Government Association Representative at Shaw University.   He was scheduled to receive his degree in Criminal Justice in 2012.  His call to public service also extended to various community and youth programs, including the Weed and Seed program, Fayetteville Street Business District, Drill Instructor for the D.L. Forbes Foundation for Youth, Hillside High School Band Parent Volunteer, Elite Tae Kwon Do Parent Volunteer and Union Baptist Church Independent School Volunteer.  

On May 28, 2011 at the age of 39, Malik was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident while riding his motorcycle in Myrtle Beach, SC.  His untimely death was felt by family, friends and the community.  This organization salutes a great man, Elbert “Malik” Mitchell III.  Malik had three children, Devin and Bria Mitchell and Taneice Hylton.