Gov. Sanford Names Mark Keel as DPS Director

SLED CHIEF OF STAFF TO LEAD DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Columbia, S.C. - April 16, 2008 - Gov. Mark Sanford today nominated State Law Enforcement Division Chief of Staff Mark Keel to become the director of the state Department of Public Safety.

Keel, 50, currently holds the rank of Major at SLED, a post he was promoted to in 2001. As Chief of Staff, Major Keel is responsible for coordination of the agency's operation, making decisions on requests for SLED investigations, and supervises on-site operations at major law enforcement events like SWAT calls. Prior to becoming Chief of Staff, Major Keel was Captain in charge of Tactical Operations, where he supervised SLED's Aviation Unit, Bloodhound Tracking Team, SWAT Team, and Fugitive Task Force.

Keel began his career at SLED in 1979 and has more than 29 years of law enforcement experience, having worked at law enforcement agencies in Barnwell, Bamberg and Orangeburg counties. Keel also holds a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

The governor said Keel's first order of business will be to conduct a top-to-bottom review of the agency, with a focus on examining disciplinary practices and promotion procedures.

"Mark brings very impressive qualifications as both a law enforcement officer and an agency administrator, and I think those considerable skills will be put to good use at the Department of Public Safety,"; Gov. Sanford said. "In talking to folks in the law enforcement community, what we've heard consistently is that Mark is a straight shooter and has real personal integrity, and I think in sorting through issues over at SLED that both of these traits are very important. He has been personally responsible for instituting a number of systems at SLED that line up with what this administration believes about the need for no tolerance for race-based behavior or language, a clear promotions system, and clear standards on procedure and discipline. His credibility within law enforcement is as well part of what led us to believe that Mark is the right person to lead DPS through this time and beyond."

Keel will begin work at the agency pending Senate confirmation.

"I'm very much looking forward to the challenge of leading the Department of Public Safety through this critical time, and I appreciate the trust Governor Sanford has placed in me to do so," Keel said. "While I share the governor's belief that by and large the men and women at the Highway Patrol and DPS as a whole are doing their jobs with professionalism on a day-to-day basis, I recognize that there is work to be done. I look forward to beginning that work after the confirmation process."