Nationally acclaimed sheriff will become head of the South Carolina State Guard COLUMBIA, S.C. – Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott will assume command of the historic S.C. State Guard (SCSG), Dec. 1, 2018. Lott, who currently serves as deputy commander SCSG (holding…
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Countless law enforcement agencies have achieved fame and notoriety over the previous 100 years. High profile criminal cases have led to the renown of many, as have the sheer number of police departments, sheriff’s offices and other…
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is leading the investigation, and is the lead agency for release of all incident-related public information. By W. Thomas Smith Jr. In the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s shooting of seven law enforcement officers (including four police officers…
Senior Deputy Peter Hart and Deputy Rick Kelly, both members of the Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Department’s Special Response (SWAT) Team, are seen here ensuring public safety and monitoring the impacts of Tropical Storm Florence as the now-degraded eye approaches Columbia, S.C.,…
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Forty-eight hours prior to Hurricane Florence’s projected thrust into central South Carolina, the Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Dept. (RCSD) was already manning RCSD’s command post and deploying disaster “strike teams” to the various regions of the county….
COMMEMORATING NATIONAL AIRBORNE DAY, AUGUST 16, 1940-2018 By W. Thomas Smith Jr. When I attended jump school nearly 40 years ago, there was a saying among non-paratroopers that ground week separated the men from the boys. Tower week separated the fools from…
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. COLUMBIA, S.C. – Lt. Col. (Ret.) Howard Tobias Rowell, U.S. Air Force Reserve (USAFR), received what he describes as “the most comforting award” recognizing his service in both the USAFR and the U.S. Marine Corps when he…
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. COLUMBIA, S.C. – A report of “active shooter” at a local elementary school kicked off a major active-shooter response exercise for the Richland County Sheriff’s Dept. (RCSD), earlier today, with scores of RCSD deputies and other officers…
Fitness event honoring fallen soldier precedes July 4th celebrations in Palmetto State By W. Thomas Smith Jr. COLUMBIA, S.C. – Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) Deputy and S.C. Army National Guard (SCARNG) officer Ryan Rawl will “never be forgotten,” says Richland County…
By W. Thomas Smith Jr. COLUMBIA, S.C. – Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott was one of four honorees inducted into the Fort Jackson Hall of Fame during ceremonies and a luncheon hosted by Maj. Gen. John P. Johnson, commanding general of Fort…
