Former Albany Police Department investigator ammounces bid for sheriff

ALBANY — Keithen Hall grew up in a rough south Albany neighborhood and beat the odds to launch a career in law enforcement. But through all of that, Hall has remained “just Ke Ke,” his nickname from childhood.

As an officer who rose through the ranks, from bicycle patrol to work in homicide and on gang investigations, Hall, who has launched a campaign for Dougherty County sheriff, said he built relationships throughout his career.

Hall will run as a Democrat in the May 21 general primary and nonpartisan election seeking to take the reins from Dougherty County Sheriff Kevin Sproul, who is not seeking re-election. Chief Deputy Terron Hayes also has declared his intention to seek the office.

As an investigator, Hall, a political newcomer, said, those relationships involved some of the worst moments in people’s lives, whether it was calling a grandmother to tell her that her grandson was a murder suspect who needed to turn himself in or notifying a victim’s family that their loved one was dead.

Those bonds with the community and the desire to continue serving that community drive his campaign, said Hall, who retired after 30 years with the Albany Police Department and currently is a captain with the Albany State University Police Department in charge of the patrol division.

“Policing the community, getting to know everybody, talking to mamas, to grandmamas, that was beneficial to me,” he said. “Without that, I couldn’t have moved or solved any of these cases.

“People knew to call me. They would say ‘I don’t know, but I heard’ … Once I got into investigations, I found my stride. People called and told me stuff because you have those relationships.

“I have the skills from robbery/homicide. I know how to deal with people during their most trying times, the times you have to knock on that door and tell them the person you love the most is no longer here.”

A 1984 Monroe High School graduate, Hall said his purpose has been to serve the community, adding he never wanted to live anywhere else. His law enforcement career has put him in place to pursue that calling.

The Flood of 1994 not only caused the deaths of 31 people in southwest Georgia, including five Albany residents, it was personal in that it flooded his mother’s residence.

“During the Great Flood of ‘94, I was over the bike patrol,” he said. “You pull up the photos, you can see me retrieving animals, retrieving pets and human remains.

“I’ve been through all the natural disasters — floods, tornadoes. I’ve been through storms, held their hands in the rain. I’ve always been a servant to the community.”

As sheriff, Hall said he would like to strengthen relationships between the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies, including the Albany and Dougherty County police departments as well as Albany State and Albany Technical College. He said he thinks that at times agencies work within their silos but should be open to lend assistance to the others when needed.

For sheriff’s office employees, Hall said he would support them by pushing to make sure they are adequately compensated for their work.

“My platform is competitive pay for all employees,” he said. “Everybody deserves to be paid for the work they do. Their pay could be a little more competitive. I want all (employees) to make a competitive salary.”

The law enforcement veteran had praise for Sproul and said he has no criticism of Hayes. His calling is to offer himself as a candidate and let voters decide.

“I’m not a politician,” he said. “If I’m not your favorite, I’m OK with that. I’m really encouraging people to get out and vote.

“I’m just a man who loves his community. My heart is here. What you see is what you get.”

File Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]