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Traffic Safety Board loses executive secretary

J. Brian McKee, 78, Malone resident and executive secretary for the Franklin County Traffic Safety Board, died Friday, Feb. 23 from complications related to his diabetes. He has been an important leader with the board since his appointment in 1998. His counsel and guidance have helped build the TSB into one of the best in New York state.

A graduate of Cornell University in 1961, Brian entered duty with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in 1962 as a civilian special agent in New York City. After a five-year tour of duty in Europe, Brian served as the special agent in charge of the NCIS Resident Agency in Washington, D.C., from 1971 to 1974.

After serving the federal government in various capacities, he was reassigned in 1984 as the regional director for the NCIS Northeast Region and in 1986 was selected for senior executive service and duty as the second civilian director of the Naval Investigative Service, a 2,000-person federal law enforcement agency. He served for three years as one of the United States delegates to the Interpol General Assembly.

Brian was the recipient of numerous awards and commendations, including commendations by Presidents Reagan and Bush for outstanding management in the field of law enforcement and by Attorneys General Meese and Thornburgh for outstanding federal service.

At the time of his retirement in 1990, Brian was recognized on the floor of the U.S. Senate for his many contributions to the law enforcement profession. He has additionally been recognized by the federal law enforcement agencies of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, Japan and the Philippines for special contributions to international law enforcement efforts.

He was a credentialed special investigator, with appropriate top secret security clearances, and worked under contract for the FBI, the U.S. Customs Service, the CIA, the Department of State, the Department of Defense and numerous other federal agencies.

Brian’s leadership with the Franklin County TSB will be sorely missed, but his contributions will always be appreciated and never forgotten. Most of us that served with him on the TSB had little idea of his accomplishments until his death, but those of us that knew him will always be proud of the opportunity we have had to serve with him. May he rest in peace!

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