A South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation agent is receiving national attention. He is one of three nominees up for a national award.

Jeff Kollars is a special agent with the South Dakota DCI. He started with DCI just over 5 years ago. And now, he is nominated for the Heroes Awards 2018: People’s Choice.

“I’m truly honored to be one of the 60 nominations throughout the nation,” Special Agent with Division of Criminal investigation, Jeff Kollars said.

Each year, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children honors law enforcement who have showed dedication to recover a missing or exploited child.

“In November of 2016 I received a series of cyber tips through the national center for missing and exploited children, the cyber tips led to the discovery of numerous images of children being sexually abused,” Kollars said.

Kollars says the case took nearly a year to get through.

“We ended up removing four children from a house here in Brookings,” Kollars said.

“This case was so serious, so egregious and he was so tenacious that we got the best possible verdict,” states attorney for Brookings County, Teree Nesvold said.

It is why Kollars wants to continue serving the state of South Dakota.

“I’ve always said that I’m honored to be a representative for the people of South Dakota, we do good work and I want to continue doing that, that’s why I got into the job,” Kollars said.

If you’re interested in voting for Kollars or reading his full story, we’ve provided a link. Voting ends on August 22.