COLUMBIA --- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford on Wednesday tapped a veteran law officer with "impeccable character" to restore public trust for an agency that has come under criticism for a string of alarming Highway Patrol videotapes.
State Law Enforcement Division Maj. Mark Keel was nominated to lead the state Department of Public Safety, which oversees the Highway Patrol.
"Mark ain't Jesus, but he's as close as I could find," Mr. Sanford said.
The Republican governor said Maj. Keel shares his zero-tolerance for promotions based on favoritism and racist behavior.
One Highway Patrol video that surfaced showed a white state trooper using a racial slur while chasing a black suspect. Mr. Sanford said that trooper should have been fired, and he accepted the resignations of Public Safety Director James Schweitzer and Highway Patrol Col. Russell Roark.
Other videotapes followed: two showed troopers ramming fleeing suspects with patrol cars; another showed a trooper kicking a suspect in the head after an interstate chase.
The videotapes, which date to 2004, fueled state and federal investigations into possible civil rights violations.
Maj. Keel, 50, was SLED's chief of staff from 2001 until November, when he was named interim chief after Robert Stewart's retirement.
Mr. Sanford said the post requires a law enforcement background and cited Maj. Keel's three decades of experience. Maj. Keel has worked in undercover narcotics, hostage negotiation and bloodhound tracking in addition to his leadership positions.
He said his first priority will be to review all hiring, training, promotion and discipline procedures. He must be confirmed by lawmakers.
IN EXPERIENCED HANDS
NAME: Mark A. Keel
AGE: 50
HOMETOWN: Barnwell
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Georgia Southern, law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law, graduate of the FBI National Academy, graduate of the state Criminal Justice Academy
CAREER: Denmark police, Barnwell police, and Orangeburg County sheriff's department before entering SLED in 1979. Captain of tactical operations before being named SLED's chief of staff in 2001. Interim SLED chief from November to February, and assistant director since March. Assessor for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
AWARDS: South Carolina Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, 1990; Strom Thurmond Award for Excellent in Law Enforcement, 2000
FAMILY: Married, two sons
Source: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
Comments
Using a racial slur during a pursuit, ramming fleeing suspects with a car and kicking suspects in the head after a highway chase aren't part of the job? There's got to be more to the governors complaints then a little non-pc behavior. Hopefully success rate of captures and conviction rate in court played some role.
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