Fighting for Vulnerable Children: Retired Sheriff's Detective

 

West Palm Beach, Fl - When Bryan McRee joined law enforcement over 25 years ago, he never anticipated that his career would center on protecting society’s most vulnerable, children facing abuse. Yet, as he shared in a recent episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, his path led him to become a dedicated advocate for child victims, navigating the complex and emotional world of child assault investigations.

“I never thought this would become a specialty for me,” McRee said. “But once I handled my first case involving a child, I realized how critical it was that someone do this right and do it with compassion.”

McRee’s career took him from a city police department to the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office in southern Georgia, near the Florida border. As a detective, he tackled some of the most challenging cases: child sexual abuse. These investigations often revealed trauma hidden within trusted spaces, families, schools, churches, and communities meant to be safe havens.

“The majority of these assaults come from someone the child knows,” McRee explained. “A family member, a coach, a caretaker. That betrayal adds another layer of trauma and it complicates the investigation.”

Contrary to common misconceptions, McRee noted that predators are rarely strangers. They are often trusted figures, making these cases deeply personal and complex. During the podcast, he recounted two cases that left a lasting impact, not only for the crimes but for the public’s and media’s failure to grasp the deeper issues at play.

“One of the hardest parts was facing attacks, not just from suspects, but sometimes from their families, who refused to believe the victim,” he shared. “That’s something the public rarely sees. But these kids... they needed someone to believe them.”

The emotional weight of these cases was undeniable. “You try to leave the job at the office,” McRee said. “But when a kid looks you in the eye and tells you what happened to them, that stays with you. You carry that forever.”

For McRee, the role of a detective extended beyond solving crimes. It was about intervention and fostering healing. “We’re not just solving crimes,” he emphasized. “We’re helping kids reclaim their lives. That starts with being willing to hear them, believe them, and fight for them.”

The scope of the issue is staggering. In the U.S., a sexual assault occurs every 68 seconds, and 93% of child victims know their abuser. Yet, only 25 out of every 1,000 perpetrators face jail time. “People need to understand the scale of the problem,” McRee urged. “We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of victims. And these kids often don’t have a voice, so we have to be that voice.”

In Georgia, organizations like the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy (GCCA) are making a difference. Serving over 900 children annually, GCCA offers trauma-informed therapy, family support, and forensic interviews to reduce retraumatization. “What GCCA does is incredible,” McRee said. “They’re rebuilding lives.”

Now retired, McRee continues to serve through LEMS.Online, a law enforcement service company providing training, compliance tools, and resources for Georgia agencies. LEMS also offers a free training record management system for Georgia POST instructors. “It’s about giving back,” he explained. “My time as a cop taught me that law enforcement needs the right tools and training. LEMS is how I continue to serve, just in a different way.”

The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode featuring McRee is a powerful call to action. Available for free on the show’s website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and major platforms, it reaches millions through 144 affiliated U.S. radio stations and later released as a podcast which is a top 0.1% globally ranked podcast. McRee’s story is sparking a broader conversation about justice for child victims and the work still needed.

“We were always taught to serve with integrity. To protect the innocent,” McRee reflected. “That mission became very real when dealing with kids who had been assaulted.”

Through his advocacy, McRee’s voice continues to resonate, urging society to listen, believe, and act to protect its most vulnerable.

Attributions

Georgia Center For Child Advocacy

Lowndes County Ga Sheriff

Wikipedia 

LEMS Online

RAINN

 



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