For the last 1 year and 9 months, Simpsonville’s former Chief of Police, Keith Grounsell, has been working in Haiti on a police contract for the United Nations and Department of State. He quickly climbed the ranks to the highest position in the country for American personnel, as the United States Contingent Commander and a Police Advisor Level V.
He is also assigned as the Advisor to the Commander over the Haitian National SWAT Team, where he mentors him in all aspects of running a national special forces police unit from budged to training.
Having done a similar job in Afghanistan for two years (2007-2009), this position was something Grounsell was familiar with at a much larger level and in a war zone.
Grounsell was also selected and completed training and testing to be become certified to travel around the world to assess Formed Police Units (FPU), to determine their readiness and suitability to make a one year deployment on a United Nations peacekeeping operation. Grounsell most recently traveled to assess the India national police force and also did the same thing in Ammon, Jordan, where he assessed their police and national SWAT team. On top of all of this, he has chalked up over 6 accolades, to include 2 United Nations medals for his distinguished service while going above and beyond the call of duty. Keith Grounsell has 3 months left on his 2nd contract and he plans on be back home in Greenville, SC, in November of 2018. When asked what his plans were for the future, Grounsell stated “I am keeping the faith and trust that God will lead me where he wants me. With that said, everything has been steering me in the direction of running for Sheriff of Greenville County in 2020 or whenever there is an election. I feel that is the best way for me to give back locally and best serve the people of Greenville County.”♦
Keith P. Grounsell United States Contingent Commander Advisor to the Haitian National Police SWAT Team Commander-United Nations United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH) ♦
