Koon’s Watch A new year brings up many feelings and opportunities to resolve to do certain things that may have missed the mark in 2020. Maybe we set goals to purge our closets, to make more friends or even be more organized. Whatever it might be that you want toContinue Reading

Koon’s Watch I was honored this week to take my third oath of office to serve as your Sheriff. Because of the current COVID-related conditions, I did so in a small, private ceremony with family, friends and colleagues at the Sheriff’s Department. The feel of the event provided me withContinue Reading

Hundreds of deputies later re-sworn By W. Thomas Smith Jr. For the seventh consecutive time since 1997, Leon Lott raised his right hand and was re-sworn as sheriff of Richland County, Tues. morning, Jan. 5. The oath of office was administered at the Richland County Courthouse in downtown Columbia byContinue Reading

Knights of Columbus honors Community Action Team officer By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Richland County Sheriff’s Dept. (RCSD) Lieutenant Marcus Kim was named DEPUTY SHERIFF OF THE YEAR 2020 by the Knights of Columbus’ Bishop England Assembly during ceremonies honoring Kim at RCSD’s Community Action Team (CAT) headquarters, Tues., Dec.Continue Reading

Koon’s Watch With Christmas season comes more generosity. People are giving and sharing and spreading holiday joy. This is the perfect time for thieves to take advantage of your generosity and distraction of holiday celebrations. They use world events like the newest vaccine to trick people into buying fake productsContinue Reading

Koon’s Watch Not a creature was stirring, except the awesome delivery drivers. Many people receive the majority of their package deliveries this month, and even more so in 2020. And thieves know that means an easy payday. Over the next few weeks, deputies are conducting extra patrols in your neighborhoodsContinue Reading