Episode 171: The Mission Continues - Part 2

How do you measure the impact of a career dedicated to protecting children?

Sometimes, it isn't measured in awards, titles, or recognition. It's measured in the children who were found, the offenders who were identified, and the investigators who became better because someone was willing to teach them.

In Part Two of our conversation with retired Detective Robert Shilling, former head of Crimes Against Children for INTERPOL, we go deeper into the lessons learned over a career spent confronting some of the most challenging crimes investigators can face.

Robert shares his perspective on how the field has evolved, the importance of cooperation between investigators across jurisdictions and international borders, and the responsibility experienced investigators have to pass their knowledge to the next generation.

There is also something bigger in this conversation: legacy.

Robert Shilling helped pioneer a field that countless investigators continue to advance today. Yet throughout our conversation, his humility is unmistakable. For him, the mission was never about recognition. It was about the children.

For those who currently investigate crimes against children—and especially those just beginning that journey—this episode is an opportunity to hear from someone who helped build the road you're now traveling.

The technology will change. The investigative techniques will evolve. New challenges will emerge.

But the mission remains the same: find them, protect them, and never stop fighting for children who need someone willing to fight for them.

Part Two: Robert Shilling — The Mission Continues