Thirty influential leaders recognized as “movers and shakers” for 2024 By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott landed a lofty 3rd PLACE in the Post & Courier’s annual 30-person POWER LIST for Columbia, South Carolina, published Wednesday, Dec. 18. First place honors went to University of SouthContinue Reading
Salvation Army Major Mark Craddock and Sheriff Lott welcome shoppers in northeast Columbia By W. Thomas Smith Jr. FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott and deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) – primarily RCSD’s command staff and members of RCSD’s Community ActionContinue Reading
Five recipients from five agencies honored by Columbia-area church for fourth consecutive year By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) Lieutenant Frieda Brown and four fellow first responders received Eastminster Presbyterian Church’s annual SERVANT LEADERSHIP AWARD on Wednesday evening, the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.Continue Reading
The Midlands Gang Task Force is thwarting violent gangs and gang-related criminal activity in central S.C. By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Gathered around a table in one of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s substations in a somewhat isolated stretch of north Columbia, S.C., Lieutenant Stephen Dauway, Corporal David Castro, andContinue Reading
Richland County, SC — In a move designed to foster closer ties with the community, Sheriff Leon Lott has added 17 new Ford Mustang GTs to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s Community Action Team (CAT) fleet. The new vehicles were unveiled on July 1 and are expected to serve asContinue Reading
Richland County deputies, Columbia Police officers, and Columbia firefighters compete for most blood donor votes in the annual drive By W. Thomas Smith Jr. COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD), the Columbia Police Department, and the Columbia Fire Department are partnering with the American Red Cross onceContinue Reading
Event to be held on the grounds of the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Sheriff Leon Lott and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) will host the first annual RCSD Community Day, on Saturday, May 18, on the grounds of the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy, 5400Continue Reading
Fourteen different summer camp opportunities led by deputies for the community By W. Thomas Smith Jr. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) is now accepting applications for this year’s RCSD summer camps. Facilitated by RCSD deputies throughout June and July and hosted at various schools within Richland County, RCSD summerContinue Reading
Sheriff Lott says females are “vital” to the overall mission By W. Thomas Smith Jr. In its ongoing recognition and celebration of Women’s History Month, March 1-31, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) had two separate groups of female deputies within the department photographed earlier in the month: It wasContinue Reading
This deputy brings an unusually calming peace to cops, the community and critical incidents By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Those of us in law enforcement know what K-9s do: They track and pursue suspects, locate missing persons, and sniff-out drugs, explosive devices and electronics (computer hard-drives, cameras, etc.), among otherContinue Reading
Multiple awards presented during annual banquet in mid-December By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Sheriff Leon Lott and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department presented scores of awards in multiple categories both to deputies and civilian employees of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) during the department’s annual Christmas Awards Banquet atContinue Reading