<bt>After 31 years as an Alexandria police officer, Michael Keegan is retiring.
“I hadn’t really planned to leave this soon, but my wife got a wonderful job opportunity in Harrisonburg and we decided that we just couldn’t pass it up,” Keegan said. “I will miss everyone that I have worked with here in Alexandria.”
Keegan joined the department on June 27, 1973 as a patrol officer. “Even then I was interested in crime prevention,” Keegan said. “I would come in on my days off and volunteer my time working in the schools. I guess I thought I would work with school age children then.”
That is not the population that finally caught his attention. In 1979, Keegan was transferred to the public community relations unit, where he remained throughout his career. In this capacity, he worked with residents throughout the city, helping to start many of the neighborhood watch programs.
“Mike is the grandfather of the department’s crime prevention program,” said deputy police chief Earl Cook. “We will miss him. He has worked tirelessly with residents throughout the city and has been a tremendous resource to them.”
Keegan is particularly interested in senior citizens. “This is the population that I really enjoy working with,” he said. “I love going into a room of seniors and talking with them about crime prevention. They really are our most vulnerable citizens and we need to let them know that we care about them.” Ruby Fitzgerald has been working as a volunteer at the Police Department for nearly 25 years.
“I have known Mike Keegan for more than 20 years,” she said. “He truly is one of the finest officers I have ever known. He is totally dedicated.”
Keegan will work with his new community in some capacity. “I have received a lot of training here in Alexandria and have a lot of experience working in crime prevention,” he said. “If the police in my new community can use some of my experience and expertise, I would be happy to share it — this time as a volunteer,” he said.