“Building Unity in the Community” -- Giving You the Tools to Fight Back Against Career Scam Artists

As your Sheriff, I have a passion for finding ways to protect you. One of the ways I can do this is by providing training and awareness to you FREE of charge. Recently I'm hearing more and more about scams targeting our communities. I want to make sure you have the tools you need to fight back and not become a victim.

Scams can come via mail, email, over the phone or now even text messages-- with the potential to not only drain your bank account but ruin your credit report. I want to empower you to recognize the difference between a good deal and a deal that will take everything you own.

Most recently, the Sheriff’s Department received reports of scams offering easy money. These reports involve people being victimized by using Craigslist and Careerbuilder.com websites to lure victims into giving up their hard earned money.

I am asking you to be very careful when online and when receiving phone calls. These criminals are doing nothing but taking advantage of you, having you send your money to Nigeria, Jamaica, South Africa, and other locations within the state. These criminals have no conscience when it comes to taking advantage of the elderly as well. Here are examples of someone victimized in Richland County:

-A 90 year old woman states that she talked to a man who she thought was her grandson. The suspect stated that he needed $3, 500.00 to get out of jail. The victim wired the money to Pennsylvania only to find out later that it wasn’t her grandson. The victim doesn’t know who received the money.

-A victim received a call asking her to be a “secret shopper” for a fictitious company with a promise of earning money for her efforts. The victim was asked to send money to them in good faith and that she would be sent money orders in return. The victim did receive two money orders totaling $990.36 from the scam artist that she placed in her Wells Fargo account. After making purchases and charging it to her account. The victim soon realized that the money orders were fake and her account was overdrawn by $1, 676.00.

I urge you that if you receive emails, calls, or letters that you do not recognize or fully understand what they are asking for- do not reply, not even to say no. Once scammers get a reply, they will send more unwanted messages. Here are some tips:

• If you get a call from a scammer, hang up.
• Do not give out any personal information like your address or ‘confirm’ details like your bank account number.
• If you answer your door to a salesperson, ask to see their ID.
• Check the company name online, and call the company to check that the person works there.
• If you have lost money to a scam, report it to law enforcement immediately.

Be weary of uninvited letters, emails, phone calls and texts that trick you out of your money. Fake lotteries, get-rich-quick investments and miracle ‘health cures. Always remember that if it sounds too good to be true-- then it usually is.

Career scam artists are also offering to perform work on your home, yard or business for an upfront fee. These criminals exist in many forms and will take advantage of any opportunity they can. They will manipulate people into thinking they will be given a service or goods when in actuality they become the victim of a horrible crime.

Here are some tips on how to avoid being scammed when seeking assistance on home repairs:

• Meet with the person who will be completing the work
• Ask for a free estimate
• Make sure the roofer actually gets up on your roof and inspects the damage themselves to give you a proper estimate
• Ask for referrals and contact them
• Check their credentials as well as checking with The Better Business Bureau, Labor Licensing and Regulation, and the South Carolina Secretary of State’ office
• Make sure they are licensed.

Always check with the Department of Consumer Affairs if you have any doubt of offers or solicitation of your money at 1-800-922-1594. I ask anyone with information about those who may be taking advantage of unsuspecting citizens should call, email or text your anonymous tip to: Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC, www.midlandscrimestoppers.com, or text "TIPSC" plus your message to CRIMES (274637).

As your Sheriff for the past 16 years, I am committed to making sure you're not a victim of crime. Please take a minute and visit our website at www.rcsd.net for tips about computer safety, identity theft and fraud, what to do if your identity is stolen and more.

"Take Back Meds" Lifesaving Initiative

I am happy to announce that the Sheriff's Department is once again partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration on Saturday, April 28, 2012 on the national initiative- focusing on the disposal of unwanted, unused, and expired medicine. This collaborative effort is designed to bring national focus to the issue of prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse, provide an opportunity for a nationwide day of disposal of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine.
 

I want to make this as convenient as possible for people to take advantage of this opportunity. We have been doing this since 2007 and I see the importance of cleaning out your medicine cabinets and securing medication; which is why we have been educating and providing citizens with safe and secure drop off sites for the past four years.

 

In partnership with the DEA, we will be hosting a local disposal site for community residents to drop off medications at the Sheriff’s Department Headquarters located at 5623 Two Notch Road on Saturday April 28, 2012 from 10 AM to 2 PM.

If you can not make it Saturday, we have permanent locations where you can drop off prescription medications for disposal. Richland County Residents are provided locked boxes that are accessible to the public from 9:00 am - 11:00 am on Mondays and Wednesdays at the following locations:

 

Richland County Sherriff’s Department Headquarters

5623 Two Notch Road
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 576-3000
*This is the only 24 hour/7 day a week drop off site

Region #1, (803) 576-1470

2615-B Lower Richland Blvd.
Columbia, SC 29061

Region #2, (803) 788-1667

7201 Two Notch Road
Columbia, SC 29223

Region #3, (803) 576-2215

6429 Bishop Avenue
Columbia, SC 29203

Region #4, (803) 576-1455

1019 Beatty Road
Columbia, SC 29210

Region #6, (803) 865-8011

96 Lake Carolina Blvd.
Columbia, SC 29229

Region #7, (803) 576-1420

1405 Screaming Eagle Road
Elgin, SC 29045

For more on this initiative visit our Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/RichlandCountySheriffsDepartment

or www.rcsd.net for tips.

CAT has new home in the Village at Sandhill

Recently, we unveiled the new home for the RCSD Community Action Team (C.A.T.) at the Village of Sandhill. I am proud to be working with Mr. Alan Kahn and Mr. Jeffrey Harper, General Manager the Village at Sandhill who both support this addition to the area- which has proven to be one of the fasted growing areas of the County.

I was so inspired to see the amazing support of both community members, and County Council members during the ribbon cutting event. We are currently discussing a long standing partnership between the Sheriff’s Department and the Village that has led to the Team’s new home. It is amazing to think about what we can accomplish when we all work together.

C.A.T. members work day and night to build relationships in the community that will improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods. The partnership with the Village is an example of one relationship that will do just that by putting the CAT Deputies directly into their areas.

The C.A.T. Program (created for the sole purpose of “Building Unity in the Community”) stands ready to partner with every community and business in Richland County. CAT members are trained to provide FREE safety education, training and resources that will help reduce your chances of becoming the victim of a crime.

In 1996 I created the Department’s Community Action Team (C.A.T.) -- a group of 14 specialized, highly trained officers with the mission to create partnerships, prevent crime and develop crime reduction strategies. The CAT objective is to improve the quality of life in our communities and solve problems. Through the leadership of Sheriff Leon Lott, the Community Action Team has organized 350 Neighborhood and Business Crime Watch organizations and are constantly working to empower our citizens.

The C.A.T. program is far more than an extension of law enforcement; by using community oriented policing methods, each Region of Richland County has been assigned specific officers (see chart below). In turn, these officers attend community meetings, and gather information about their particular areas and the area's special needs. The goals set by Sheriff Lott are for the CAT Deputies to act upon are education, awareness and enforcement. The CAT Deputies are also tasked with being a liaison between the community and the diverse divisions within the Sheriff’s Department (Forensic Science, Investigation, Narcotics, Patrol etc.) so that they too can function in the best interests of the individual communities.

It is also the mission of the C.A.T. program to develop long term solutions for all neighborhoods and citizens of Richland County. This includes things as simple as conducting FREE home and business security surveys, to developing strategies for ridding areas of criminals.

I expect that this relationship between the Department and the Village will continue to grow. We look forward to a long term partnership that will ultimately help maintain "Unity in the Community".

Sheriff issue’s thank you and Easter blessing -- Request to continue fight:

"As we reflect on Good Friday and Easter Sunday the blessings we have because of Jesus’ sacrifice, I am reminded of how thankful I am to have communities in Richland County and personnel of the Sheriff’s Department who partner together and work so hard work; with you making Richland County a better place to work, live and play.

I would ask that you continue the fight with me of making our schools safe havens, our communities’ safer places and continuing to reduce crime. In turn, I as your Sheriff will continue to fight for you, fight for our victim’s and fight against those that would threaten us. Additionally, I will continue to search for innovative, cost effective policing programs and ideas that will support stronger families, our youth and which work to strengthen our communities.

The Sheriff’s Department has a host of resources, intervention and educational programs and services that can help you, your community, your church and your school. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions, concerns or want to take advantage of these free resources. Please contact us for more information and potential partnerships; and let’s continue to reduce crime and “Build Unity in the Community”.

May God bless you and your family.”

We are assessing services, working to stay ahead of trends and development

As your Sheriff, I strongly believe that the most successful law enforcement agencies stay connected with their communities and have the most active citizens. I also think it's vital that we must stay ahead of trends and development and constantly assess the services we provide. This is one was we can continue to build "Unity in the Community".

I encourage all communities to have an active crime watch and be our eyes and ears to help us better serve you and your families. We are constantly reviewing the services the Department provides to make sure that we are being efficient and effective with the resources the taxpayers provide.

In 1997 I divided Richland County into seven patrol regions – placing deputies out into the communities we serve and allowing them to focus on community oriented policing. The placement of deputies into the patrol regions allows deputies to work in the areas where they live and allows them to get to know the citizens and criminals; and to better understand the community’s needs and potential trends.

In order to stay connected with our communities and ahead of development and trends, I am reassigning personnel and redrawing the boundaries for three of the patrol regions. Regions 3, 6 and 7: North Columbia, Blythewood and the Northeast respectively (which have been some of the fastest developing areas in the County). With the new boundaries and reassigned personnel, the Regions will be more effective and efficient.  

If you go to this link (http://www.rcsd.net/dept/regions.htm) you will find a map showing the boundaries. And below are the points of contact for the respective Regions that have changed this month. Please feel free to contact us at 576-3000 if you have any questions about these changes.

Sheriff Leon Lott

Region 3

Commander: Captain Scott McManus

Contact information: smcmanus@rcsd.net , 803-576-2215

Community Action Team Deputy Aubrey Torres atorres@rcsd.net , 803-518-8438

Region 6

Commander: Captain Roxana Meetze

Contact: rmeetze@rcsd.net , 803-865-8011

Community Action Team Deputy Chris Potter epotter@rcsd.net , 803-309-6668

Region 7

Commander: Captain Scott Plexico

Contact: splexico@rcsd.net , 803-576-1421

Community Action Team Deputy Travis Roberts troberts@rcsd.net , 803-513-3440

Therapy Dogs are "Building Unity in the Community" for People of All Ages

You could say Deputy Lewis Marshall has a little "luck" following him everywhere he goes... as in "Lucky" his four-legged partner. The two spend their workdays together visiting Richland County schools, hospitals and assisted living homes. But don't be fooled... Lucky is not the typical police dog. He's a therapy dog.

"Lucky has done things the run of the mill dog can't," says Marshall. "Lucky is allowed to go into areas of buildings and hospitals the average animal can not go."

Lucky gets special access because his fur does not shed as much as the typical dog breed and Marshall gives Lucky baths to keep him smelling good. The 100 pound grey poodle- yes, poodle- is called a ray of light to those who feel down and out.

"He was socialized and trained starting at 4 months old immediately after I got him," says Marshall, who came to the Department in 1997 having been in Law Enforcement for more than 45 years. 

As Sheriff, I believe that our seniors are the foundation of our community – that we must care for and provide services and tools necessary to enhance our seniors quality of life. I created Project HOPE (Helping our Precious Elderly) in Richland County to make sure that the large senior population is cared for and not targeted by the criminals. Our Therapy Dog Program is another effective tool that not only gives back to our elderly but also helps those facing illness or adversity.

Marshall says, "It's a great thing to help someone forget about the pain, and to see them smile for a while during our visit. But it's so hard when you see someone make friends with Lucky over time... and then one week we go back and they are gone. That's the hardest part of this job."

In a typical 8 hour workday, the two will travel to multiple locations and see dozens of people- who all know Lucky by name. "Sometimes I feel like I'm just a driver for Lucky- like he's actually my handler," Marshall says laughing. "They certainly love on him."

But what can you say? Lucky does tricks, gives kisses and will even sit and beg on command. Marshall says with a smile, "I could never compete with such perfection."

I have spoken with countless doctors and nurses who have seen the impact Marshall and Lucky have while visiting. For example, one doctor told me about how Lucky jumped into a bed with a child who had a terminal illness providing comfort and loving final moments. They provide entertainment, consistency in visitations, interactive therapy and the ability to help people forget about their illnesses.

• Please visit our Facebook page for more photos: http://www.facebook.com/RichlandCountySheriffsDepartment

Fugitive Task Force arrests 10,618 people – 6,105 violent offenders

We have again seen success in making our communities safer by apprehending dangerous offenders. The Department’s Fugitive Task Force arrested 35 people and cleared 47 warrants during a warrant sweep in the early morning hours of Saturday, March 3, 2012.

I created the Fugitive Task Force in 2006, to target and apprehend career criminals. The Fugitive Team seeks out the most dangerous offenders with the mission of making our communities safer and in many cases bringing closure to victims.

The Fugitive Task Force combines the expertise of our Deputies with that of other law enforcement agencies like the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the United States Marshal’s Service. The hard work of the Task Force members and partnerships with the other police and sheriff’s departments is how they are able to reach such impressive results- as seen in 2011. In that one year alone, the Fugitive Team arrested 1,516 people; of which 857 were for violent offences, and cleared a total of 2,593 warrants.

What do all these numbers mean? It means we are winning the war against the bad guys and making our communities safer.

As we continue to build "Unity in the Community" I ask that anyone be our eyes and ears in the community.


If you have information on the location of any wanted person, should call, email or text your anonymous tip to Crimestoppers:

§        Call 1-888-CRIME-SC

§        Text "TIP SC" plus your message to CRIMES (274637)

§        Visit www.midlandscrimestoppers.com