Major Kenny B. Epling began his law enforcement career in September 1992 when he was hired by the Sheriff’s Office. After graduating from the academy, he was assigned to the patrol division, where he worked all three shifts as a patrol deputy. During his time as a patrol deputy, he was a member of the crash reconstruction (Crash) team, investigating deadly and near-fatal motor vehicle crashes, a field training officer, a background investigator, designated shift supervisor/deputy-in-charge in the absence of a shift sergeant, as well as an acting sergeant. He was recognized as Officer of the Month many times, received several Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD) awards and received many commendations for excellent police work from judges, prosecutors, and citizens.
In July 1997, Major Epling was promoted to sergeant and transferred to the Investigative Division, where he supervised the Vice/Narcotics Unit until his promotion to lieutenant in July 2002. In October 2002, he was assigned as the DC Beltway Sniper Task Force Coordinator at the Richmond FBI Headquarters after a victim of John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo’s deadly terror rampage was shot in Hanover County. He directed hundreds of federal, state and local officers, as well as coordinated with many departments and two task forces in Northern Virginia and Maryland, to help bring the deadly reign of terror to an end when they were both arrested on October 24, 2002.
In October 2003, Major Epling was transferred to the Patrol Division where he served as a shift commander on all three shifts until his promotion to captain in April 2015, where he led the Patrol Division until his transfer to the Investigative Division in December 2018. While there, he led the entire division until an additional captain was added in February 2020, at which time he commanded the General Investigations Unit until his promotion to Major in May 2021.
Major Epling graduated cum laude from Concord College in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and received his Associate Degree from Southern West Virginia Community College in 1988. During his law enforcement career, he has had the opportunity to attend numerous professional leadership schools. He is a graduate of the University of Richmond Professional Executive Leadership School, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Division, Narcotics Commander Leadership Program, the Virginia Tech Institute for Leadership in Changing Times, and most recently, the FBI National Academy, Session # 279 at Quantico, Virginia.
Major Epling is a military veteran, serving 7 years in Army Aviation with the West Virginia Army National Guard (1984-1991) and was a public school teacher for two years before being hired by the Sheriff’s Office in 1992. He currently serves as a major for Sheriff Hines and oversees the Patrol Division.
Major Epling and his wife April live in Mechanicsville and have five adult children. He enjoys spending time with family, traveling, camping, motorcycle riding and fishing.
