

Sheriff Leon Lott

Sheriff Leon Lott Born in Aiken, South Carolina, in 1953, Sheriff Leon Lott attended the University of South Carolina - Aiken, earning an Associate Degree in Police Administration. He went on to attend the University of South Carolina - Columbia, earning a Bachelor Degree in Sociology and continued with graduate study for a Masters in Criminal Justice. Later, Sheriff Lott graduated from the FBI National Academy, FBI National Executive Institute, Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, and Furman University's SC Diversity Leadership Academy. Sheriff Lott earned a Masters in Emergency Management from Lander University.



Sheriff Lott came to the Richland County Sheriff's Department in 1975 as a patrol officer. He advanced thereafter to various positions, including Criminal Investigator, Narcotics Agent, Lieutenant and Captain of Narcotics Division, Administrative Captain, Uniform Patrol Captain, and Watch Commander. In 1993, Sheriff Lott took the position of Chief of Police of St. Matthews, SC.



In 1996, he made a successful run for Sheriff of Richland County. Upon taking office, Sheriff Lott turned the direction of the Department to Community Oriented Policing. The success that the Department has had in the community since that time can be measured by the civic and community oriented boards and committees that have asked for Sheriff Lott’s participation, to wit: USO Advisory Council

President - SC Law Enforcement Officers' Association

SC Correctional Association - Board of Directors

D.A.R.E. America - Board of Directors

Fight Crime- Invest in Kids - Advisory Committee, Washington, DC

Cooperative Ministry - Advisory Board

Communities in Schools - Advisory Board

Boy Scouts of America - Indian Waters Council - Board of Directors

SC Public Safety Coordinating Council - Chairman

SC Police Corps - Advisory Council

United Way - Local Government Division Chairman

American Heart Association - Industry Leader Division

March of Dimes - Luxury Lockup - Chairman

American Red Cross - Division Chair

SC Center for Family Policy - Board of Directors

SC Council for Conflict Resolution - Advisory Council

Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce

Habitat for Humanity

University of South Carolina Alumni Association

University of South Carolina - Aiken Alumni Association

Spring Valley Rotary Club

Chapin Sertoma Club

Special Olympics - Board of Directors

National Safety Council

National Federation for the Blind

Greater Columbia Community Relations Council Brigadier General - Commander - SC State Guard

Honorary Green Beret - Special Forces Assoc. (S.C. chapter)

American Legion Post 6 - Commander - S.A.L.

Retired Military Police Association

Employee Support for Guard and Reserve - Board of Directors

Association of the United States Army - Palmetto State Chapter

SC Combat Veterans Group

SEABEE Veterans of America

Adjutant General's Corps Regimental Association

South Carolina Combat Veteran's Group

Special Forces Association Boyleston Masonic Lodge - AFM #123

Columbia York Rite

Columbia Scottish Rite

National Sojourners - Ft. Jackson Post 184 2018 Public Servant of the Year - Columbia Chamber of Commerce

2018 Fort Jackson Hall of Fame

2018 Chief LaMunyon Leadership Award - Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics South Carolina

2017 Outstanding Community Service Award - Building Better Communities

2017 Distinguished Citizen Award - Gamecock Battalion

2015 Colonel Ordie P. Taylor Humanitarian of the Year Award - Community Relations Council Columbia Luncheon Club

2015 First Responder of the Year - Benedict College Athletic Department

2015 US Army War College National Security Seminar

2014 Honorary Defense Force Commander - 169th Security Forces Squadron

2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award - ESGR

2012 DEA / DARE America Law Enforcement Executive of the Year

2012 Human Rights Presidential Citation, SC NAACP

2 011 Local Government Official of the Year, SC Recreation and Parks Association

2011 Richard Allen Award, Allen University

2010 Columbia Chamber of Commerce Military Advocate Award

2010 New Ebenezer Baptist Church Outstanding Public Service Award

2010 Horatio Gates Honorary Medal

2007 Order of the Palmetto

2006 Greater Irmo Chamber of Commerce, Community Service Award

2004 "SC Sheriff of the Year"

2004 "Strom Thurmond Award of Excellence in Law Enforcement"

2004 SC Law Enforcement Officers' Association - "Toughest Cop"

2004 SC Vocational Rehabilitation Association - "Citation for Individual Contributions" (accessibility rights for people with disabilities)

2002 Palmetto Pride (SC Governor's Beautification and Litter Control Program) - "Outstanding Leadership in Litter Enforcement"

2002 SC Victim Assistance Network - "Silver Scales of Justice"

2001 Indian Waters Council - Boy Scouts of America - "Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award"

2001 Martin Luther King, Jr. - "Drum Major for Justice Award"

2000 Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce - "Athena Award"

2000 SC Association of School Resource Officers - "President's Award"

2000 SC Association of Crime Prevention Officers - "Administrator of the Year"

1999 "Carolina's Toughest Cop"

1989 SC Law Enforcement Officers' Association - "Officer of the Year"

1986 Columbia Jaycees "Young Officer of the Year" Sheriff Lott, a member of the First Baptist Church of Columbia, is married and has four daughters.