Police Officer Darnell Keel returned to a hero’s welcome at the Harvey Police Department on Tuesday.
Forty-seven-year old Keel was shot during an hours long standoff in August last year. For nearly 21 hours, two suspects held two women and six children at gunpoint inside a home at 147th Street and Harvey Avenue. Once the suspects started to shoot, Keel pushed a fellow rookie officer out of the way and took a bullet in his arm.
“It was just a reaction. Actually I was just trying to get out of the way with him,” Keel said during a press conference Tuesday.
Keel had the opportunity to retire after his injury, but decided to go back to work after spending six months going through rehabilitation. He now has a metal plate in his right arm.
“It speaks to his character, it speaks to his integrity, and it speaks to his courage. He’s very courageous to put his life on the line to save someone else,” said Harvey Mayor Eric Kellogg.
Officer Keel returned to full duty Tuesday to the Sex Crimes Unit.
