DD FIRST RESPONDER PROFILE SERIES – Duluth Patrol Sergeant Keandre “Dre” Ghoram
The best police officers are passionate about their work and community. Their commitment to law enforcement and to helping Duluth be safe for all must sustain them through intense on-the-job situations.
With an infectious laugh and a charming Southern accent, Ghoram connects easily with others. But, he also has the skill and experience to handle anything that arises on the job.
In addition to being a Sergeant, Ghoram is the Assistant Commander for the DPD’s Crisis Negotiation Team. With this designation, he is one of the first to be called in to handle Duluth’s most critical incidents.
He also uses his talents in the classroom; he is a part-time instructor at Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College (FDLTCC), his alma mater. Here, he teaches future officers about death investigations, major crime, and incident response. But his heart is drawn to being out on patrol, interacting with colleagues and the community.
“This job is very rewarding, and I’m super passionate about my career,” he shared. “My favorite part of the job is working with the men and women here in Duluth. We all have one objective, and that’s to keep this community as safe as possible. Every day, we try to make an impact on people’s lives for the better.”
Patrol Sergeant Keandre “Dre” Ghoram has been with the Duluth Police Department since 2015. Photo submitted.
Southern Upbringing
Ghoram is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was raised by a single mother, Cassandra Ghoram, and his grandmother, Irene Ghoram. These strong, dependable women always inspired him to pursue his dreams.
“In Baton Rouge, there was a lot of violent crime and drug activity,” he shared. “My mom instilled it in me to want something better. And growing up with a single parent, the odds are stacked against you. I wanted to accomplish something and do better for myself.”
His family’s Baptist roots run deep. With his grandmother’s encouragement, Ghoram grew up “in the church.” As a result, he developed an unusually deep moral and ethical foundation at an early age.
Athletics
In his youth, Ghoram played both football and basketball. Although he never predicted he’d wind up in northern Minnesota, there was an early connection to the state. “I wanted to be the next Randy Moss,” he noted with a chuckle.
Ghoram knew he needed to do well in the classroom to succeed in athletics. “Once I started playing sports, I knew my academics also needed to be on point,” he said. “I was fascinated by math and focused on getting good grades so I could get into college.”
Ghoram decided to pursue a career in law enforcement early on. “I wanted to give back and be a voice for the victims,” he said. “Originally, I wanted to be a homicide detective. My mom and I were fascinated by the TV show, ‘The First 48’, and enjoyed watching it together.”
He was also inspired by two of his basketball coaches – Louis Banks and Lawrence Houston – both of whom were law enforcement officers. “These men played a major role in my life, and I really looked up to them,” Ghoram said.
Minnesota
Another of his coaches, Kirby Loupe, helped Ghoram connect to Minnesota. He was recruited to play basketball at FDLTCC, and moved here in 2010.
“Fond Du Lac has a great reputation for a good law enforcement program and is one of the best in the state of Minnesota,” he noted. “And,” he chuckled, “I always wanted to experience the snow.”
As a Louisiana boy, however, Minnesota winters caught him off guard. “I knew it would get cold, but I definitely didn’t prepare for the Minnesota winters. When I first moved up here, I thought a hoodie would suffice. It definitely did not.”
Ghoram earned two degrees – an AA and an AS – from FDLTCC. And, in 2014, he obtained his law enforcement certificate.
After graduating college, Ghoram had trouble finding a job as a Patrol Officer in what was then a highly competitive market. In the meantime, he worked at Woodland Hills as a youth care counselor for a year.
He was hired by the Duluth Police Department in 2015.
DPD
Ghoram started as a Patrol Officer, and his “beat” was the Central/East Hillside district. After three years, He was promoted to Investigator with the Violent Crimes Unit. In 2021, he was promoted again to Patrol Sergeant, the role he holds today.
Patrol Sergeant Ghoram enjoys interacting with the Duluth community. Photo submitted.
As a Patrol Sergeant, Ghoram oversees a team of 16 Patrol Officers, and he works 12-hour shifts. He explained a bit about his job.
“Every day is so different; you don’t know what to expect. We have to wear many, many hats. But, generally, my first 4 to 5 hours includes handling administrative work.”
“Then, we do daily briefings, which we call ‘turnouts.’ After that, I go out on patrol. I work like a Patrol Officer but in a supervisory role. For instance, I respond to the more serious types of calls, which may include use of force and critical incidents, violent assaults, and death investigations.”
One aspect of his job has been quite surprising to Ghoram – the opioid crisis. “It’s very surprising that much of my day is responding to welfare checks related to chemical dependency and/or mental health. There are many of these calls every day. We get to know these people on a first and last name basis because we interact with them so often.”
Ghoram’s favorite part about the job is positively impacting people’s lives. His least favorite parts include witnessing crimes against children and providing death notifications to families.
At the 2024 Grandma’s Marathon, DPD assist to ensure a safe and successful run for participants spectators. ((L to R) Sergeant Ethan Roe, Lynn Rosandich, Sergeant Mike Jambor, and Sergeant Keandre Ghoram. Photo submitted
Impactful Story
Despite the challenges of the job, the success stories make everything worth it to Ghoram. He generously shared one of his most memorable stories.
“A lady had called 911 because her husband was making suicidal statements. He wouldn’t open the door, so I talked with him through the door for several minutes. I tried to get him to realize this was a temporary problem. I talked to him about our kids – we are both fathers – and how much our kids need us.
“Eventually, he opened the door and we safely got him to a hospital. He shook my hand and said he appreciated me speaking from the heart. I saw him a couple years later – he is still with us - and he told me his life has gotten so much better.”
Due to this successful outcome – along with many more - Sergeant Ghoram was awarded a Supervisor of the Year award from the DPD in 2022. He was also recognized with a Meritorious Award in 2022 and two Chief’s Commendation Awards in 2023.
Sergeant Michael Jambor and Sergeant Keandre Ghoram wear pink patches to promote DPD's public awareness campaign, the Pink Patch Project. This project helps raise awareness and shows support for those affected by cancer. Photo submitted.
Duluth
Ghoram is married with three children: Janaya (10), Jerrick (6), and Jaylani (4). His “amazing” wife stays at home to raise their kids.
In his spare time, he enjoys playing basketball, deer hunting and fishing with his family. Someday (after his kids are grown), he plans to purchase his dream car: a Mustang GT.
Ghoram shared how his feelings about Duluth have evolved. “Initially, moving here was a complete culture shock,” he said.
“I came from a more diverse community, although I had never met a Native American until I moved to Minnesota. Interestingly, later, I discovered that my great-great grandmother was a full-blooded Native American – from the Blackfoot Tribe.”
Another big adjustment was the food. “I went from tons of authentic Creole cuisine to meat and potatoes,” he said with a chuckle.
But, Ghoram has found a few Duluth restaurants he enjoys. “My favorite restaurant is OMC,” he said. “I’ve never had a bad meal there.”
Ultimately, Ghoram is grateful to have settled down right here in Duluth. And we are so fortunate to have him as one of our hard-working first responders.
“I love being able to coach, mentor, and guide,” he noted of his job. “I enjoy sharing my knowledge and holding people accountable – both my fellow officers and the community.”
“I honestly don’t know where I’d be if I hadn’t taken that leap and moved to Minnesota,” he added. “Minnesota is my home now. It is a good place for career advancement and a great place to raise our kids.”
Sergeant Keandre Ghoram and Officer Jeremy O'Connor enjoy casual interaction at community event. Photo submitted.
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Andrea Busche is a Duluth + regional freelance writer and small business owner. She is credited with over 1,000 bylines in local print and digital publications and has been a frequent contributor to Destination Duluth since 2017.
