What is a DEA Diversion Investigator? | Brian Rucker | Episode 180

Navy Commander who lost his best friend at 17 spent 20 years in the fleet, then walked into the DEA at age 42 as a diversion investigator. Brian Rucker helped take down the first internet pharmacy case under the Ryan Haight Act, shut down early OxyContin pill mills in Philadelphia, and watched the opioid crisis migrate from Florida into Georgia.In this raw interview, he breaks down what diversion investigators actually do, the black-sheep relationship with special agents, leadership lessons from the Navy, and how one personal tragedy shaped an entire career fighting pharmaceutical diversion.If this story hits home, hit like, subscribe, and drop a comment with the name of someone you lost to drugs or someone who still serves. Share it with a young person considering federal law enforcement or the military.More veteran and law-enforcement stories in the “Reasons We Serve” playlist.Welcome to our channel, Reasons We Serve, a podcast dedicated to exploring the motivations, challenges, and realities of working in law enforcement. We dive deep into officers' personal stories, discuss different career paths, and break down the roles of various agencies—from local police departments to state and federal law enforcement.If you liked this episode, please give us a 5-star review, subscribe, and share to stay updated on more inspiring law enforcement stories.