Kalispell police sergeant a true family man

Kalispell Police Sgt. Sean Keller is a school board member, a coach and a man with a position of some authority in his job. But the roles he plays as a family man and father are what mean the most to him.

“It really means everything to me,” Keller said. “Being involved in my kids’ activities, being there for them, it’s so important. There are times I feel like I take on too much, but I want them to know life can be busy, hectic at times, but there are many rewards because of it.”

Keller celebrated 15 years of marriage to his wife, Jordan, last week. They have three children together. Bella is the oldest at 14 while Wyatt is 12 and Westyn is 10. His involvement in his kids’ lives include 4-H, Cub Scouts and coaching sports such as football, basketball and baseball.

Keller joined the police department in Kalispell nearly five years ago after he and Jordan decided they wanted to raise their kids in a more family-friendly atmosphere.

“We were looking around and there was an opening on the force here, so we left Northern California,” Keller said. “We feel pretty fortunate to be here.”

The native of Craig, Colorado, grew up on a ranch before his parents divorced. He then lived in town, but the ranch way of life and love of horses never left him.

“I wasn’t good enough to be a pro bull rider, so I enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 2000,” Keller said.

He was stationed in San Diego, but then came two tours in the Middle East. Keller spent time in Iraq and Indonesia with his infantry unit. He got out in 2004 and got an associate degree at Miramar College in San Diego. Keller also worked on a horse ranch and then met Jordan.

A job with the San Mateo Police Department saw the couple move to the community located between San Jose and San Francisco.

“I worked as a K-9 officer and was on two SWAT teams, as well as a chemical-biological team,” Keller said. “I worked street crimes, a lot of gangs and drug activity.”

Keller got a master’s degree in criminal justice with an emphasis in leadership while he and Jordan’s family grew.

AFTER SEVEN years in San Mateo, they made it to the Flathead Valley.

They live and train Bureau of Land Management mustangs on their ranch in Kila. Pack trips into the Bob Marshall Wilderness are favored family activities.

“We just got back from a trip into the Bob for elk. We saw one cow, but it was still a great time. Any time spent in the Bob is a great time,” Keller said about the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area.

Keller recently got some social media recognition after helping an Oregon woman get her 20-foot U-Haul truck with a flatbed car hauler extricated from a one-way parking lot in an apartment complex. The woman got stuck in the parking lot and couldn’t back out of the complex without hitting parked cars.

Keller’s experience backing up horse trailers proved to be a real benefit as he carefully backed the rig out and parked it on the street, none the worse for wear.

“My grandad would have been proud of that park job,” Keller said with a little laugh. “Those are some of the calls we get to help people with. You really never know what may come up.

“It could be giving someone CPR, jumping into a pool or a burning car to drag someone out, delivering a baby.”

KELLER INITIALLY wanted to be a game warden after he left the military, but a lack of jobs had him on a different path and he couldn’t be happier.

“I really like it and although it can be very chaotic, it’s been rewarding in many ways,” he said. “I wish more people could see how much our officers care and the concern they show for people who are going through a difficult time when they’ve lost a loved one or had some type of personal tragedy. The regard for others when they are having troubles really blows me away.”

Keller also serves as a board member of Kalispell-based Valor Equine Therapy Services.

“I went through some rough years myself and I wanted to give back, so getting involved was easy to do,” Keller said.

He said the therapy services group tries to offer two or three classes each month for veterans and first responders.

“Cops can be some of the worst in asking for help,” Keller said. “There are worries about losing their jobs or being labeled ‘soft,’ but addressing the mental aspects is extremely important.

“Montana could definitely use more mental-health services for many people, it’s something that’s really lacking here,” he said.

But Keller said he feels blessed to be able to live and work in an area where people support law officers. He was promoted to sergeant earlier this year and wants to work his way up the department ranks.

“I can hardly buy a cup of coffee in this town,” he said. “There’s not a week that goes by when someone doesn’t drop off food or some kind of sweet treats.”

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com or 406-758-4441.