Lieutenant William Keegan Interview

Lieutenant William Keegan

A highly decorated Lieutenant in the Special Operations Division (S.O.D) and a 20 year veteran of the Port Authority Police Department, Bill Keegan was Operations Commander of the WTC Rescue/Recovery Teams, and awarded highest medal for the WTC 9/11 assault. His other awards include the 1993 WTC Bombing Medal of Valor for his rescue of school children trapped in a stalled elevator; the Hanratty Medal of Valor, 14 meritorious medals; and 36 excellent police duty medals.

Lt. Keegan is a member of the NYPD and New Jersey Honor Legion, and for his work at Ground Zero was officially awarded the rank of “Colonel” by the Attorney General of Kentucky. He is still active helping workers who suffered injury or trauma during the rescue and recovery operation. He is also active in the International Rett Syndrome Association; the illness affects one of his children.

Before joining the Port Authority Police Department, Lt. Keegan spent 10 years as a trucking business entrepreneur operating on the piers of New York and New Jersey.   He has an Associate Degree from St. Peter's College, and was varsity quarterback at Hudson Catholic High School in Jersey City for three years.

Lt. Keegan and his wife Karen have three daughters, Kristine, 16, Tara 13, and Rory, 5. They reside in New Jersey.