-Life as a Chief Criminal Investigator-
Kevin Atkins has been a career law enforcement officer in South Carolina since 1999, serving in various roles from patrol, investigations, and administration.
He joined the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office in October of 2014, where he worked relentlessly as an investigator in the Internet Crimes Against Children Section (ICAC).
In June of 2019, he was promoted to Chief Criminal Investigator and Commander of the South Carolina ICAC Task Force.
Past Experience
Prior to joining the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Kevin worked with the Newberry Police Department and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office.
Educational Background
Kevin is a proud graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, and a Masters of Criminal Justice Degree.
He is also a graduate of the 236th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA.
Award and Accomplishment
In 2022, Kevin received the Director’s Honor Award from the United States Secret Service, and in 2023 he received The Light of Hope Award from The Innocent Lives Foundation. Both of these awards recognized his contributions to the Internet Crimes Against Children Section (ICAC) space.
Reasons to Listen
This will be a talk worth listening to for:
- those interested in knowing more about the field of law enforcement
- those curious about life as a Chief Criminal Investigator
- those who are looking for tips and insights on further exploring this career opportunity for themselves
Listeners will come away with insights on:
- the reality of police work as opposed to stereotypical views on the profession
- one of Kevin’s core philosophies relating to police work
- what life as a Chief Criminal Investigator and Commander of the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Department is all about
- the inherent difficulties in trying to keep pace with the rise in crime related to Internet Crimes Against Children
- a day in the life as a Chief Criminal Investigator
- nuanced looks at law enforcement philosophies when it comes to apprehending perpetrators of internet crimes against children
- the challenges of working on a task force charged with handling extremely disturbing and serious crimes
- a key determinant in law enforcement which often separates those who succeed and those who don’t
- what it’s like managing the emotional ups and downs related to the work
- views towards mental health within the profession
- how Kevin goes about out assigning meaning to the work he is part of
- some stories related to the work
- the role technology plays in the world of law enforcement
- an emerging career option within law enforcement that is growing in need and importance
- much more!
A Memorable Quote from the Episode
on the topic of law enforcement:
“It is about enforcing the law but you learn. You go into it thinking, I’m going to lock up bad guys, I’m going to drive cars really really fast, I’m going to have my gun out chasing bank robbers and then you realize so much more is about solving problems and working with the community.”
-Kevin Atkins
Check out the Video Conversation:
For those who desire to view video highlights of the conversation, you can do so via Youtube.
Discover More
For those interested in learning more about Kevin and his work, you can find him on the following platform:
*Episode Disclaimer*
Some of the subject matter discussed in this episode may not be appropriate for younger listeners. Discretion is advised.
Keep Listening!
I hope you enjoyed the episode. For more, check out additional episodes here!
