Kristin Brianne Riddle
Kristin Riddle is a Lieutenant with the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina, where she has built a 14-year career in law enforcement. She currently serves on patrol in a leadership role, after advancing through multiple ranks including deputy, corporal, and sergeant within the agency’s Narcotics Task Force. Throughout her career, she has gained extensive experience in interagency coordination, criminal investigations, and operational leadership in one of the largest counties in the state.
A significant portion of Kristin’s career has been dedicated to narcotics enforcement, where she worked both as an investigator and supervisor. In this capacity, she participated in undercover operations, controlled drug purchases, and complex investigations involving drug trafficking and related crimes, including efforts targeting the opioid and fentanyl crisis impacting her jurisdiction. She has also attended specialized training and professional conferences through organizations such as the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADI) and the U.S. Department of Justice Narcotics Commander School to strengthen her expertise in drug enforcement strategy and leadership.
Kristin’s path into law enforcement was shaped both by family influence and personal experience. Inspired by her father, a longtime police officer, she initially pursued higher education at Clemson University before a traumatic violent attack on campus became a turning point in her life, ultimately solidifying her commitment to public service and policing. She later continued her academic journey, earning an associate degree in Criminal Justice from Trident Technical College and pursuing further studies at the University of Alabama. Her lived experience as a crime victim has deeply influenced her policing philosophy, particularly her emphasis on empathy, victim advocacy, and compassionate response in violent crime cases.
• FBINAA Leadership Certification Program
• DEA Narcotics Investigator School
• U.S Department of Justice 2024 LECC/SCLEOA Narcotics Commanders School
• National Gang Academy
• South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy
• FBI LEEDA Leadership Institute
• Trident Technical College - AS
• University of Alabama - BA
• Exceptional Duty Medal
• Letter of Commendation
• Unit Citation Medal
• FBI LEEDA Trilogy Award
• East Coast Gang Investigators Association
• South Carolina Gang Investigators Association
• National Association of Drug Diversion Imvestigators (NADDI)
What do you attribute your success to?
I've always had a really good work ethic, and I can thank my parents for that. What really drives my success is the advice I received from a female chief of police when I attended narcotics Commander School at the University of South Carolina. I asked her how she got to where she was, because I felt like men have run over this field, and I really wanted to have what she had - to be in a leadership position so I can speak and encourage other females that they can do this and they're strong enough to do this. She told me that she padded her resume, went to all these courses, and became so qualified that they could no longer ignore her. When you're the most qualified in the room, male or female, that became my goal - to be the most qualified in the room so that I'm no longer ignored as a female in this job field. I've taken that to heart by pursuing the FBI National Academy Leadership Certification Program, completing the FBI LEEDA trilogy program, attending numerous trainings, and finishing my bachelor's degree. I'm making myself so qualified that I can't be overlooked.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from a female chief of police I met at narcotics Commander School at the University of South Carolina in 2024. There weren't very many females in the class - only about two of us - and she came in to give a leadership speech. I pulled her off to the side and told her that I don't see very many female chiefs of police or females in these classes, and I asked how she got to where she was because I felt like men have run over this field. I told her I really wanted to have what she had - to be in a leadership position so I can speak and encourage other females that they can do this and they're strong enough to do this. She said to me, 'I padded my resume, I went to all these courses and became who I am, and I'm so qualified that they can no longer ignore me.' She taught me that when you're the most qualified in the room, male or female, you can't be ignored. That became my goal - to be the most qualified in the room so that I'm no longer ignored as a female in this job field.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise young women entering my industry to actively pursue training opportunities and leadership roles, even in traditionally male-dominated environments. I encourage building strong qualifications and confidence through continuous learning and hands-on experience. Once established, I believe it is important to use those positions not only for personal growth, but also to support, encourage, and uplift other women entering the field.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is the ongoing opioid and fentanyl epidemic, which continues to create a severe local crisis and place significant pressure on public safety systems. At the same time, women remain underrepresented as students and are often nearly absent as instructors in many law enforcement training environments, which highlights both a persistent gap and a meaningful opportunity to strengthen the field by expanding female participation, leadership, and instructional roles.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I want to teach other females to have that confidence where you can walk in a room and you know you're there, and you can attend these classes that are filled with men. Put in for the training. I want to encourage these females to get in leadership positions so they can encourage others. Make yourself the most qualified person in the room - pad your resume, go to all the courses, become so qualified that they can no longer ignore you, whether you're male or female. I've attended so many trainings, and not only are females underrepresented as students in those classes, I'm normally the only one, if not maybe there's another female in those classes. And not once has there ever been a female instructor in any class that I've ever taken - not once. That's why my goal is to become an instructor for leadership-based training for women in law enforcement in the next couple of years. There's just not enough of us out there, and we need more female representation not just as students but as instructors and leaders who can encourage other women that they're strong enough to do this job.