RCSD deputies accept HOT COPS CHALLENGE

By W. Thomas Smith Jr.

COLUMBIA, S.C.: The HOT COPS CHALLENGE – An ongoing social-media craze that began with a photo which has since gone viral, of Gainesville (Florida) police officers during Hurricane Irma rescue-and-recovery efforts – has been accepted by several law-enforcement agencies around the country.

Never to be outdone, deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Dept. (RCSD) tossed their own hats into the ring, earlier this week.

Like the Gainesville Police Dept. photo, the RCSD picture has become a hit, nationwide. Unlike the Gainesville photo, the six RCSD “HOT COPS” deputies are all female.

“This is but another way in which we are having fun with those within-and-around the communities we serve, and they with us,” says Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott. “Like our deputies who have become increasingly visible through other community bridge-building efforts like LIVE PD, for example, our participation in the HOT COPS CHALLENGE as well as the positive response to it, demonstrate and showcase the strong relationships we have developed among those we serve.”

RCSD’s “HOT COPS” pictured left to right are Investigator Caraly Alvarez, Senior Deputy III Katelyn Jasak, Sergeant Brittany Jackamonis, Deputy Adelyn Perez, K-9 Specialist Emily Lemmond, and Investigator Aubree Taylor.

The RCSD took the challenge a step further with Basco, one of the department’s full-service K-9s, who was photographed and tweeted with the line “Who said #HotCops had to have 2 legs?” and the hashtag #K9sarecops2.

– For more information about the Richland County Sheriff’s Dept., please visit http://rcsd.net.