Community Policing Strategies and Problem-Solving Techniques Result in "Building Unity in the Community"

It is the mission of the Richland County Sheriff's Department to improve the quality of life for ALL citizens.  As your Sheriff, I have made it my duty to build unity between the Sheriff's Department and the community; joining our high standards of excellence with our vision for safer communities. This is done all year long- but celebrated during our annual National Night Out events.

National Night Out held the first Tuesday of August is designed to encourage communities to interact with each other, interact with law enforcement and to send the message to criminals that we will not tolerate their behavior.

While one night is certainly not an answer to crime, drugs and violence-- National Night Out does represent the kind of spirit, energy and determination that is helping to make many neighborhoods safer places throughout the year. It is a night to celebrate safety and crime prevention successes - and to expand and strengthen programs everyday of the year.

I encourage ALL neighborhoods to use National Night Out to unify for a great cause and evaluate your neighborhood to determine what things can be done to improved your safety. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is prepared to assist each community with making it safer and to reducing crime overall.

Through passion and commitment we will maintain a high standard of professional accountability and will reduce the fear of crime and the fear of retaliation by the criminal element.

It is my goal is to have 100% participation from all neighborhoods in Richland County on National Night Out, and have a crime watch in every neighborhood and business community. Neighbors can organize themselves as well as business owners and tenants to talk about crime prevention in their neighborhood and business community.

Some of this year's events include:

• Richland Village Apartments - 1234 Universal Drive
• Summit Community - The Summit Clemson Road
• Lake Carolina - Town Center
• Woodlands Forest Greens Neighborhood Association - 9 Baldur Court
• Lower Richland High School – 2615 Lower Richland Boulevard
• Carriage House Apartments - 110 Amsterdam Drive
• Newcastle Neighborhood - 202 Newcastle Drive
• St. Andrews Pointe Apartment - 1510 St. Andrews Road
• Courtyards at Providence Plantation – Providence Crossing

The Sheriffs Department Community Action Team specializes in helping individuals start and maintain their crime watch. I ask that each neighborhood contact the Community Services Division at the Sheriff’s Department at (803) 576-3191 for ideas on how to help prevent crime.

More on National Night Out: The yearly event began in 1984 in an effort to heighten awareness and strengthen participation in local anticrime efforts; it was felt that a high-profile, high-impact type of crime prevention event was needed nationally. It's a wonderful opportunity for communities nationwide to promote police-community partnerships, crime prevention, and neighborhood camaraderie.