Over the past 27 years, Master Officer Chris Kirkpatrick has helped protect some of the most powerful leaders in South Carolina: From legislators at the State House, to the Chief Justice of the SC Supreme Court, to the first family at the Governor’s Mansion.
“Sometimes, I look back and have to pinch myself,” said Kirkpatrick, who retired at the end of February after 26 years with the Bureau of Protective Services. “I’ve been blessed to have had the opportunity to be surrounded by so many high-level people, even though I may not be one myself. But still, having been afforded the trust to do that and perform that mission has been the most rewarding part for me.”
Law enforcement was never on Kirkpatrick’s radar. He initially pursued a career on the state level to support his family, starting as a corrections officer. A short time later, he heard about the Bureau of Protective Services, which ensures the safety and security of employees and visitors at the Capitol Complex, along with the SC Supreme Court and Governor’s Mansion. His first assignment was to the State House division.
“I went from living in a dormitory with inmates 12 hours a day to putting on a uniform and standing behind Governor Jim Hodges during a press conference,” Kirkpatrick recalled, acknowledging that his career path was not linear.
“I was content remaining behind the scenes and quietly doing what I was doing,” he said. “Although, it afforded me the opportunity to work in every BPS division. Had I taken the traditional promotional path, these opportunities would not have been available.”
Over the years, Kirkpatrick has worked in each of BPS’ four divisions: State House, Judicial, Governor’s Mansion, and State Agency Support. Protecting each of the three main branches of state government in South Carolina provided an array of memories and experiences, but some of his most significant moments happened during his days in the State Agency Support division — and involved people who were not well known or elected officials.
There was the time two young boys rode up on bicycles and alerted Kirkpatrick about what turned out to be a homeless encampment and meth lab in the woods behind a state agency’s headquarters. On at least two occasions, Kirkpatrick encountered an elderly person with Alzheimer’s wandering the streets and helped reunite them with their worried families.
On another emotional day, Kirkpatrick had to help keep a mother, who was a state employee where he worked, from leaving her office until the county coroner could arrive and deliver shattering news that her son had been hit and killed by a drunk driver.
“That was very difficult,” he recalled. “She didn’t realize what had happened until her family members walked in. I felt so sorry for her; I knew her personally.”
On the good days, and even the difficult ones, Kirkpatrick finds pride and contentment in serving others. Being a BPS officer has allowed him to serve South Carolina’s elected officials, and the people that they serve.
“Those are the most rewarding memories,” he said, “where I’ve actually been able to get in there and assist somebody in a real way, and be more than just a collective presence of law enforcement.”
Kirkpatrick now says a second career is definitely on the table after retiring from BPS. While he doesn’t quite know what that looks like yet, he knows it will certainly involve serving others.
“I seem to operate at my highest level when I’m helping people in need,” he said. “I can’t not help people. I have to help people — that’s where I get the most joy.”
