Event will precede the annual NNO nationwide event to be held next month By W. Thomas Smith Jr. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) is inviting broad public participation to the first-ever NATIONAL NIGHT OUT kick-off, a multi-activities weekend event connecting-with, bringing together and celebrating the various communities across RichlandContinue Reading
MUSC Health is teaming up with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department to help save lives. On July 9, the health system donated 14 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) during a press conference held at MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown. These AEDs will be placed in patrol cars throughout Richland County,Continue Reading
Sixth annual expedition winding its way through the Midlands this week By W. Thomas Smith Jr. A hand-picked team from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) joined Dr. Tom Mullikin, director of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), Michelle McCollum, president of the S.C. National Heritage Corridor, and otherContinue Reading
Tenth annual summer blood drive deemed a success by all three participating first-responder agencies By W. Thomas Smith Jr. For the 10th year in a row, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) has bested the City of Columbia Police Department (CPD) and the Columbia-Richland Fire Department in the competitively friendlyContinue 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 14th-annual GUARDIANS OF THE NIGHT, a 5K road race in support of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s (RCSD) K9 teams (dogsContinue Reading
The July 4 event honors fallen Soldier and RCSD Deputy Ryan Rawl By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Registration is open for the 13th-annual RYAN RAWL MEMORIAL WORKOUT to be held Friday, July 4, at the S.C. State House in Columbia. Hosted and facilitated by Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott andContinue Reading
Five K-9s from three S.C. LE agencies perished in 2024 By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Deceased K-9s with the Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Department have been honored with a beautiful new memorial statue in RCSD’s memorial garden in front of RCSD headquarters in Columbia. The statue was officially unveiled, Thursday,Continue Reading
Special medical training for Richland County deputies puts them in a class of their own By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Following months of intensive training in emergency medical care and now Advanced Life Support (ALS) licensing, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) has achieved a level of departmental emergency medicalContinue Reading
Deputies past and present have been gathering for more than a quarter century By W. Thomas Smith Jr. SHERIFF LEON LOTT AND THE RICHLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT (RCSD) hosted the department’s 27th annual retirees’ luncheon at RCSD’s Denny Terrace training headquarters substation – the cafeteria-auditorium of the former Denny TerraceContinue Reading
How the hit TV series benefits the Richland County Sheriff’s Department By W. Thomas Smith Jr. [A version of this article was published in POLICE1, March 11, 2025] SINCE ITS TELEVISION PREMIER on July 22, 2022, “On Patrol: Live,” a reality TV docuseries produced by Half Moon Pictures and airingContinue Reading
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
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