Keel celebrates return to SLED with ceremony

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel has officially returned to the agency he always wanted to lead.

Gov. Nikki Haley swore Keel in as head of the State Law Enforcement Division during a ceremony Monday at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy in Columbia.

Keel officially took over as SLED chief on July 1, replacing Reggie Lloyd, who left the office with eight months remaining in his term.

Keel joined SLED in 1979 and worked his way through the ranks, serving as a helicopter pilot and hostage negotiator. He is just the fourth chief in agency history.

Keel didn’t get the job when longtime SLED Chief Robert Stewart retired. Instead, Keel worked as director of the Department of Public Safety for three years before reaching his dream job.