Captain Downing was born and raised in Summerville, SC, attending Fort Dorchester High School and Charleston Southern University. 

Captain Downing started his law enforcement career in 2002 as a Detention Officer at the Charleston County Detention Center. He served in multiple positions from Housing, Booking and Security. In 2004 he was promoted to Deputy Sheriff and assigned to the Patrol Division where he served as a Field Training Officer and an Operator on the S.W.A.T. Team.  He then transferred to the Detective Bureau as a Detective, investigating various crimes including Major Violent Crimes. 

In 2017 he joined the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office as a Detective, where he was responsible for investigating numerous high-profile cases, including one set to be featured on Investigation Discovery’s show American Monster. While serving in the Criminal Investigations Division, he was promoted to Sergeant and later Lieutenant. In 2023, after over 15 years in investigations, Captain Downing was transferred to the Patrol Division as a shift Lieutenant.  In 2024 he was promoted to Captain and assigned to the Hill-Finklea Detention Center.  Captain Downing is also a member of the Underwater Recovery Team as a Diver, serving the tri-county area when called upon. 

Captain Downing is married with four children, one adopted foreign exchange daughter, three dogs, three fish and two snails.