Outgoing GBI director reflects on his career

ATLANTA — After 45 years with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, this Christmas Eve will be the last for Director Vernon Keenan.

Keenan will turn in his gun and badge on Jan. 1, 2019. He announced his retirement after a recent meeting with Gov.-Elect Brian Kemp.

Channel 2's Aaron Diamant sat down with the living legend of Georgia law enforcement for a look back over his career.

"I knew at some point, I needed to retire," Keenan said. "It's either retire, or, if you continue working, die behind my desk, which is not an objective that I had."

Keenan told Diamant he considers the men and women of the bureau as his legacy.

“I believe that they have the culture in our agency that we need, and that is one of transparency, one of integrity and one of professionalism," Keenan said.

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Over the years, Keenan and his signature fedora were a familiar presence at many landmark events covered by Channel 2 Action News.

From the days-long manhunt after the 2009 murder of hiker Meredith Emerson on Blood Mountain to the recovery of bodies from coffins disinterred by Tropical Storm Alberto's floodwaters in nearby Albany in 1994, Keenan was on the ground.

Keenan told Diamant he's proud of his staff.

“We get our job done because of the men and women who work here," Keenan said. “I would not be the GBI director without the professional staff that is here.”

He admits he won't miss those phone calls with staff in the middle of the night that start out with, "Director, you're not going to believe what's happening now."

Keenan said his career as a cop kept him off the sidelines, but he's confident about the GBI's future.

"The agency will continue on, and the new director is going to be a success. I have no doubt about that," Keenan said.

Kemp has not indicated who he might name as Keenan's replacement.

In the meantime, Keenan said he plans to teach and travel in his retirement.

Cox Media Group