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
National security analyst briefs law enforcement leaders By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Kyle Shideler, director and senior analyst for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security at the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Security Policy, delivered a series of counterriot briefings to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at the department’s Denny Terrace Training Facility.Continue Reading
The popular series follows Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigators as they work missing persons cases By W. Thomas Smith Jr. “Missing: Dead or Alive,” a NETFLIX documentary series featuring the Richland County (South Carolina) Sheriff’s Department has been renewed for a second season with filming beginning in central South CarolinaContinue Reading
Deputies and K9s will race in the popular 5K alongside Midlands-area runners, many participating with their pet dogs By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Registration is open for the 12th annual GUARDIANS OF THE NIGHT, a 5K road race in support of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s (RCSD) K9 teams (dogsContinue Reading
Multi-agency substation located in North Columbia By W. Thomas Smith Jr. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) opened its seventeenth satellite substation with the new RCSD-led Midlands Gang Task Force (MGTF) headquarters building at 7615 Wilson Boulevard across from Meadowlake Park in north Columbia, Friday, June 30. The headquartersContinue Reading
Sheriff Lott receives award for achieving yet another agency first By W. Thomas Smith Jr. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) was recognized for its having been named the first law enforcement agency nationwide to achieve peace officer certification by national non-profit POLICE2PEACE, the brainchild behind the peace officer brandingContinue Reading
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Corporal Kenny Fitzsimmons, Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD), was awarded the Sheriff’s Award for Excellence for saving the life of a man about to take his own life in January. The distraught man, 26-year-old Daniel Kenny, was sitting on the edge of a bridge overpassContinue Reading
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) was out in force ringing the bell (sometimes singing and dancing) for the Salvation Army of the Midlands, all shifts, all day, at both entrances to Walmart in northeast Columbia, Thursday, Dec.Continue Reading
Discussions range from family to recruiting to fitness By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott welcomed Brig. General Jason E. Kelly, U.S. Army, to Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) headquarters in Columbia for an informal meeting between the two senior chiefs, Tuesday, Oct. 25. Among the discussionContinue Reading