Sergeant John Keel

Leland Police Department

Southport, NC

Date of Death: January 11, 2021

Age: 54
Years of Service: 16
Duty Status: Medically Retired
Veteran: No

Sergeant John Keel was a devoted father, husband, brother, and friend. He began his career in public service working as a firefighter at Leland Fire Department. This is where he found his true calling of helping others, protecting society, and making communities safer. Once he completed the Basic Law Enforcement Training program, he secured a job as a Leland Police Officer where he heroically and proudly served for 16 years until his retirement in 2016.

Sergeant Keel had a large family and many friends. During his free time, he enjoyed cooking and hosting cook-outs as often as possible. He was an outstanding home improvement “go-to” guy who put his heart and soul into his projects, especially ones to make his next cook-out even better. He was also an active member of Apostolic Tabernacle Church. As a father and a father figure to all, John could be stern when necessary, but had one of the softest hearts known to man-kind and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.