State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel is celebrating his return to the agency he always wanted to lead.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH, AP) -- State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel is celebrating his return to the agency he always wanted to lead.
Gov. Nikki Haley swore Keel in Monday morning at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy in Columbia.
Keel officially took over as SLED chief on July 1. He replaced Reggie Lloyd, who left with eight months remaining in his term.
The new director started tearing up while talking about the position at a formal announcement last month along side Gov. Nikki Haley.
"I am going to do my very best to see that SLED serves you and assists you in everything you ask," Keel said at the time.
Haley said she has no doubt Keel's the right choice to run the division.
Keel joined SLED in 1979 and worked his way through the ranks, working a number of different jobs including helicopter pilot and hostage negotiator. He is just the fourth chief in the agency's 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 being appointed to his dream job.
What do you think Mark Keel taking over the State Law Enforcement Division? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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