The Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP) has named GBI Director Vernon Keenan as this year’s recipient of the Special Service Award in recognition of his proactive contributions to his agency, to the GACP and to the state’s law enforcement community. Covington Chief of Police and GACP President Stacey Cotton made the presentation at the organization’s recent annual banquet in Savannah.

Keenan entered law enforcement in 1972 as a uniformed officer at the DeKalb County Police Department and became a GBI Special Agent in 1973. During his career in the GBI, he has been promoted to every sworn rank in the agency and was appointed director in 2003.