Keller takes over NPD

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
After more than 20 years in law enforcement, Sam Keller has taken the helm of the Newcastle Police Department. 
Keller spent most of his career serving in Faulkner County, Arkansas, before spending a short time with the University of Arkansas before eventually making his way to Newcastle in 2017. Population of Faulkner County is about 126,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“I began my law enforcement career in February of 1998 with the Faulkner County (Arkansas) Sheriff’s Office as a reserve deputy,” Keller said. “In order to do this, I attended 119 hours of classroom and practical exercise training, along with 60 hours of riding with a certified deputy. I served the citizens of Faulkner County in this capacity for 13 months.” 
Keller was then hired as a part-time deputy in April of 1999 for the department before becoming a full-time deputy in May of 2000. 
“I then attended the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy in January of 2001, which was 474 hours of required training, plus 25 hours of elective training,” Keller said. “During my tenure with Faulkner County, I worked as a patrol deputy handling various types of calls for service. These included civil issues, domestic violence situations, attempted suicides, medical calls, assault and battery calls, fights in progress, persons with a gun, animals in the roadway, shots fired calls, homicides, rape, child and elder abuse calls, as well as hostage and barricaded subjects. In addition, I also worked traffic enforcement and many other types of civil and criminal calls.” 
In 2002, Keller became a K-9 handler, working with the Faulkner County-Conway Police Department Metro Swat Team. His partner, Romtom, was a dual-purpose K-9. Keller and Romtom became certified through the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association and responded to several situations, including “high-risk” search warrants. 
In 2003, Keller became a shift sergeant, adding to his regular duties. He was responsible for reviewing and approving reports for seven patrol deputies, scheduling, approving training requests, vehicle and equipment inspections, providing first-line supervision and dealing with complaints about deputies. 
“I was also responsible for first-line disciplinary actions and being a resource to my shift,” Keller said, noting that several of those duties are similar to those of the police chief. 
“During this time, I also became a general law enforcement instructor, firearms instructor, Taser instructor, Glock armorer, Colt AR armorer, and TASER armorer,” Keller said. 
Keller was promoted in 2008 to patrol lieutenant. While serving in this capacity, he said, he was responsible for 32 deputies on four different shifts as well as special assignments. 
In addition to supervising four shift sergeants, he also became a training officer and was involved in the hiring of new deputies and reviewing disciplinary actions for patrol staff. 
In 2009, Keller became involved in criminal investigation after Romtom was retired due to health issues. 
“In this position, I investigated felony criminal cases. These ranged from residential burglary to homicide,” Keller said. “The two main areas I worked in were narcotics and internet predators.” 
After nearly 20 years with the sheriff’s department, Keller took a position as a patrol officer with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Police Department at the main campus in Little Rock in 2016. Student enrollment is about 3,000. 
During his time at the university, Keller responded to general calls and provided security.
“I provided security for several sensitive areas within the campus where nuclear material and biological agents are housed and utilized for medical treatment research. Specialized training was required due to the potential dangers of nuclear and biological agents being on campus,” Keller said.
In 2017, Keller decided to apply for a position with the Newcastle Police Department and earned Professional Peace Officer Standards and Training certification in March 2018 after completing the requirements for officers trained in other states. Medical issue forced Keller to return to Arkansas in August 2018. 
Keller was contacted in October 2019 about returning to the Newcastle Police Department. He noted that, during the year he spent in Arkansas, he had returned to work at the University of Arkansas. 
“I had fallen in love with the Newcastle and Weston County area of Wyoming. … I was overjoyed,” Keller said about his return to Newcastle as a patrol officer in October. 
Over the course of his career, Keller reported receiving a number of certifications that will aid him in running the department, including certification as a basic police officer, general police officer, intermediate police officer, instructor/professional certificate, firearms instructor, radar operator and radar instructor. He added that he also holds an instructor certificate in Civilian Response to an Active Shooter Events and as a TASER instructor. 
“I was very honored to have been approached by the council to step in and be the interim chief of police upon the sudden retirement of Chief Jim Owens,” Keller said. “I sincerely wish to make positive changes within the Newcastle Police Department and improve relationships between the department and the other public service agencies in Weston County.” 
Newcastle City Council President Don Steveson said that all of Keller’s experience will help him make the department better for the community. 
“During the interview when we asked ‘What do you want out of this position?’, the answer he gave was, I am not wanting anything from this position, it is what I can give back in this position,” Steveson said. “His experience is what he wants to be able to give to the community while also making the department a better place to work.”