Richland County Sheriff receives U.S. Army recognition
June 3, 2018
By W. Thomas Smith Jr.
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 Jackson, Fri., June 1.
The induction honor recognizes “those who have meant so much to the overall mission of Fort Jackson,” said Gen. Johnson prior to the presentation of medals. “Their gift to the Midlands community, to Fort Jackson, and for our Army team. They’ve enriched our Army team. They’ve dulled the edges of some of the sacrifice that is involved.”
Sheriff Lott was selected for induction based on his “lifelong support of both Columbia and Fort Jackson” among other distinctions. The Sheriff serves as president of the Association of the United States Army, Palmetto State Chapter. He serves on the boards of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, the S.C. Combat Veterans Group, the Retired Military Police Association, and many other boards, advisory councils and military supporting organizations. Lott also serves as deputy commander (brigadier general) of the S.C. State Guard, and he is an honorary Green Beret. Not to the mention “all of the military veterans that the Sheriff employs and has employed following military service,” Johnson added.
Under Lott’s leadership, the Richland County Sheriff’s Dept. (RCSD) has enjoyed a long, mutually supportive relationship that has served both central South Carolina and Fort Jackson whether during natural disasters like the disastrous rain-and-flood events of 2015 and 2016, or during special training evolutions like last month’s SOUTH CAROLINA SWAT SUMMIT wherein 117 SWAT-trained law enforcement officers from 21 separate police departments and sheriff’s offices from across S.C., participated in a joint training effort facilitated by RCSD’s Special Response Team and members of the FBI’s regional SWAT Teams. All training was conducted on various ranges at Fort Jackson.
Sheriff Lott’s fellow inductees included Ms. Carol Davis, Ms. Susan McPherson, and Ms. Joanie Thresher [Pictured L-R are Thresher, Lott, and McPherson].
Fort Jackson, S.C., is the largest U.S. Army basic training facility in the nation.
