Deputy Chief of Police

Deputy Chief Keith Howard DSN 27

Deputy Chief Keith Howard joined the Swansea Police Department in 2007 after serving five years in the United States Marine Corps, including a deployment for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

Howard, upon joining the department in 2007, was assigned to the patrol division for approximately two years.  Howard was selected to represent the department in the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois (MEGSI), as an undercover narcotics detective, from 2009-2012.  After completing three years in MEGSI, Howard returned to the department in the patrol division for approximately one year.

Howard was chosen to become a detective in 2014, where he was also member of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis.  In August 2014, Howard was promoted to Sergeant, where he rejoined the patrol division as a shift supervisor until he was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police in November 2022.

During his tenure at the department, Deputy Chief Howard has and continues to serve as the Range Master for the department.  Howard is a state certified pistol, rifle, shotgun and Taser instructor. Howard is the Range Master for the Southwestern Illinois College Police Academy and a firearms instructor for the Southwestern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission (SILEC). Howard is a Colt certified 1911 armorer, AR-15/M-16 armorer, Springfield Armory armorer, Smith and Wesson armorer and a Glock armorer. Howard is a certified active shooter instructor, Simunitions instructor, Reality Based Use of Force Instructor, Force Science DeEscalation Instructor and a Field Training Officer (FTO).

Deputy Chief Howard has a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice from Lindenwood College and an A.A.S. degree in Administration of Justice from Southwestern Illinois College. Deputy Chief Howard is currently completing his Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Lindenwood University and is expected to complete in 2024. Howard has completed the Police Mid-Management Role in the 21^st Century. Lastly, Howard graduated from Northwestern Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command (Class 515).