Keith A. Thornton Jr. takes pride in being a proud Gay, Black American man who passionately cares about all people. A Chicago native born on the Westside of Chicago, Keith is best known for his hard work and dedication within the field of public safety having served in every capacity.
For more than 15 years, and starting at the age of nine, Keith served as a volunteer firefighter assisting at fires, special rescues, and medical emergency calls with the Chicago Fire Department while simultaneously working in the private sector of 9-1-1 ambulances as anationally certified Emergency Medical Technician and field trainer to new hires.
In 2012, Keith relocated to California and graduated at the top of his Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) academy class of 88 recruits. As class president, he was given the opportunity to work at any station within the affluent areas of Los Angeles. Keith still chose South Central, where he was a highly dedicated and decorated police officer specializing in gangs, narcotics, and undercover vice operations while still being committed on and off-duty to community policing.
Keith took a position in 2018 with Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications Center as a 9-1-1 Police Communications Operator II. He is known throughout the city by most police officers as he is a citywide relief dispatcher who bounces from zone to zone, covering single neighborhoods, communities, and police districts throughout the city.
In his personal life, Keith is a mentor with the iMentor program where he voluntarily teaches at-risk youth attending Chicago Public Schools in low-income areas. It’s common to find Keith throughout the city after hours as he is contacted by first responders during dire situations where his skills in peer support and crisis negotiation has come into play in terms of mental illness. He is the founder of #HealChicago, a new movement created, to help revitalize distressed neighborhoods within Chicago and empower community spirit.