Posted on Fri, Jul. 21, 2006

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Lott takes reins of law officers’ group

Richland County sheriff hopes to foster cooperation among agencies

FILE PHOTOGRAPH/THE STATE

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, shown talking with a new deputy last year, has been in law enforcement for 32 years.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott was installed as president of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Association earlier this week at the annual awards banquet in Myrtle Beach.

Lott, 53, who has been in law enforcement for 32 years and Richland County sheriff for 10 years, answered questions about what he plans to focus on as the association’s president.

QUESTION:

What is the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Association?

Lott: “The SCLEOA is the oldest law-enforcement association in the state. It was established in 1941 and has approximately 10,500 members. It represents all law enforcement throughout the state.”

QUESTION:

Have you run before? Lott: “This is the first time I ran. I’m the first (president) from Richland County. I’ve been on the board as a district representative and then a secretary. It’s an honor to be elected.”

QUESTION:

What is your top goal as president?

Lott: “My goal as president will be to get all the different organizations (within the association) to work closer together instead of us being in competition.”

QUESTION:

What do you want to address?

Lott: “There are three different things. The first is to honor and respect past presidents. The second is to represent what issues we have. You have to represent the whole state. Problems in Charleston might not be the same in Greenville. And the third thing is to build the future. We need to help officers along in their career. Thirty-two years ago, I didn’t think I’d be sheriff. We’ve had people help us in our career and we need to do the same.”

QUESTION:

What are some of the issues you want to look at?

Lott: “Law enforcement pay, making sure officers are protected and fit with equipment.”

QUESTION:

What are you looking forward to?

Lott: “Organizing the police Olympics. They’ve always been something I’ve participated in. To me, that’s the fun part. There is a firearms competition. You try and get all the departments to compete. We just held them at the conference.”

QUESTION:

And how did Richland County do?

Lott: “Richland County got the Top Cop male and female and we also won the most awards in the firearms competition.”

QUESTION:

What is the Top Cop award?

Lott: “It’s given to someone who competed in all the different events and scored the most points. The Olympics started three years ago. I won the first one for toughest male cop.”

QUESTION:

When are you up for re-election for Richland County Sheriff?

Lott: “2008 is the next election.”

— Caroline Smith