Chief Fitch was born in the City of St. Louis and resides in St. Louis County with his wife and two children. He started his career in 1983 as a patrol officer in the Affton Precinct. He became a Field Training Officer where he served until his transfer in 1992. Chief Fitch was then assigned to the newly formed Municipal Services Unit. This Unit is responsible for developing and maintaining liaison with area law enforcement agencies in an effort to improve the delivery of police services. It is also responsible for the coordination of police service contracts with municipal law enforcement agencies and governments.

In 1993, he was selected to be a detective in the Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Crimes Against Persons where he investigated the crimes of homicide, robbery and sexual assault. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1995 and served as a patrol supervisor in the South County and Fenton Precincts.

In 1997, he was promoted to Lieutenant and served as a Watch Commander in the Fenton and Affton Precincts. He was later reassigned as the Commander for the Bureau of Professional Responsibility, which is responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct by Department employees, as well as for staff inspections of each component of the Department.

Upon his promotion to Captain in 1999, he became the Commander of the Fenton Precinct where he served until his promotion to the rank of Major in 2001. At that time, he was assigned to the Division of Patrol as the Commanding Officer where he was responsible for the management and operation of all seven police precincts, Metro Link Detail, Bureau of Special Operations (Tactical Operations, Air Support Unit, Community Action Team and Highway Safety), Chaplains, School Services and the Office of Emergency Management, as well as oversight for the Washington University Police Department and Lambert Airport Police Department.