Richland County, SC – The Richland County Sheriff’s Department has arrested five teenagers in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred on January 28, 2025, in the 1000 block of Miles Bowman Rd. Deputies responded to reports of gunfire around 9:30 p.m. and discovered a 23-year-old man deceased in theContinue Reading
Training developed in-house said to be the first on its scale in the Palmetto State By W. Thomas Smith Jr. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) held its first-ever graduation of 22 deputy sheriffs enrolled in the department’s new TACTICAL MEDICAL PROGRAM, which prepares deputies for the full-spectrum of challengesContinue Reading
At least $50,000 raised for Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 unit By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD), RCSD K-9s, and friends and supporters of RCSD and local law enforcement gathered at Columbia Flag & Sign Company in West Columbia for the first-ever “Dog-a-thonContinue Reading
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
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
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