Get to Know: Lilburn Police Detective Kim Banks

By looking at Kim Banks in her Lilburn Police Department uniform, you couldn't really tell she rides a motorcycle on the weekends. 

"It's fun," said Banks of riding her 2008 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic, Police Edition Special. "It's a great outlet. It takes you away, and it's good to be outdoors and enjoy the fresh air."

When Banks isn't riding her hog, she's usually found behind her desk at the police department, acting the role of supervisor for the Criminal Investigation Unit. Her job entails doing undercover work and follow-up investigations of cases, in addition to preparing papers for the district attorney's office for prosecutions. 

"The best part of my job is helping others," said Banks, a former Lilburn resident who now lives in Flowery Branch of Hall County. "Especially the children. There's no other way to put it, other than helping those who can't help themselves." 

She's been a detective for around nine years and has been with Lilburn PD for her entire law enforcement career of 14 years. Banks said she first started out as a 911 operator for Lilburn once her children graduated from Parkview High School, and taking those calls inspired her to go through the police academy. 

"Once my children were grown, that's when I decided to basically change careers and head in this direction," she said. 

More recently, she's been training with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations for an online child predator program called Internet Crimes Against Children. Since ICAC is an undercover operation, she's being trained in how to locate offenders and learning about online predator chatting. The program aims to educate local schools about cyber crime. 

"It's going to be really good for the community," she said. "Hopefully it'll help raise some awareness for parents to watch what their children are doing and who they're chatting with on the Internet."

With her law enforcement career taking charge and her kids out of the house, Banks and her husband, Ed, fill most of their spare time wth riding their motorcycles.

They started riding only four years ago as a way to have something they can both do, and ever since, it seems they've been heavily involved in fundraiser bike rides, where bikers pay a donation registration fee and then ride together at the event.

"It's just something we can do together," she said of riding with her husband at the fundraisers. "At the same time, it can benefit other people, kind of like paying it forward. We try to help other people who are in need." 

She and her husband are involved in countless organizations: They're members of the Patriot Guard Riders, a nationwide campaign that organizes missions and motorcycle rides for veterans and active military; they've also helped charities such as the Children's Cancer Foundation and for stroke victims. The couple has also done rides with the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides programs and services to injured members in the service. One of their most recent rides was last Saturday for the WWP.

The Banks also ride for many fundraisers and funerals for veterans, firefighters and police officers; escorts to the airport for honor flights that take World War II veterans to Washington; and private rides, usually for law enforcement officers in need. 

Detective Jeff Kinney in the CIU and Sergeant Steve Castor, both with the Lilburn PD, help with organizing and driving in the private charity rides, too. Banks said the department will probably have a motorcycle benefit ride for Lilburn PD . 

Banks said she and her husband also participate in poker runs. In these fundraisers, motorcyclists pay a registration fee (which goes to the fundraiser) and are given a list of places to go. At each location, they're handed a playing card, and at the end, the bikers with the best poker hands win prizes. 

One of the best poker runs she's been in, Banks said, is the First Annual In the Line of Duty Motorcycle Ride to benefit the late Cpl. Chad LeCroy, a Georgia State Patrol officer who was shot and killed on the job. The March run benefitted LeCroy's wife and children. 

With a fulfilling hobby and a tough job, it seems Banks is keeping herself busy with an empty nest at home. And even though she can't officially call Lilburn home anymore, she can still feel it when she goes to work. 

"I love it," she said. "I love the citizens, and I love the community."