“Eight elections later and 28 years, it’s still the same. It’s still very exciting and humbling to be here,” said Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott
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For the eighth-consecutive time since 1997, Leon Lawson Lott raised his right hand and was re-sworn as sheriff of Richland County (S.C.), Tuesday, Jan. 7, at the Richland County Courthouse in downtown Columbia, South Carolina. The oath of office was administered by the Honorable Daniel McLeod Coble, resident judge for S.C.’s 5th Judicial Circuit.
Sheriff Lott was sworn-in using a well-worn King James version of the Bible, a Christmas gift from his father in 1964 and the same Bible with which he has administered the oath of office during his previous seven swearing-in ceremonies.
The Tuesday ceremony was attended by several hundred guests including senior law enforcement leaders (chiefs of police from other area LE agencies), the Columbia-Richland County fire chief, local pastors, the adjutant general of South Carolina, other general officers and military leaders, state legislators, several judges, solicitors, other attorneys, representatives of both Columbia City Council and Richland County Council, the Mayor of Columbia and a former mayor, City of Columbia police officers, scores of deputy sheriffs with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) and RCSD administrative employees, members of the media, friends and family.


