Tag Archives: Columbia Police Department

Comparing the police and sheriff’s departments

Check out this comparison of the Columbia Police Department to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. It ran with Noelle Phillip’s Sunday story about the culture of the two departments: NOTE: The crime rate is per 10,000 residents.
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District 3 public meeting on sheriff/police contract

Wednesday night, District 3 Councilwoman Belinda Gergel held a public meeting about the proposed sheriff/police contract. A good crowd showed up at the Capital Senior Center, but I didn’t get a head count. Mayor Steve Benjamin and Richland 1 school board member Susie Dibble were there, along with Seth Rose, the Democratic nominee for the [...]
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Last night’s public meetings on the sheriff/police contract

There were two of them. One in District 4, the other in District 1. The District 4 meeting started at 6 p.m. at Woodland Park. About 85 people showed up to tell Councilwoman Leona Plaugh what they thought about the proposed contract. I listened to 10 people talk. Eight were opposed to it, and two [...]
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The sheriff’s process for responding to city crimes

My story yesterday continued our coverage of a proposal that would allow Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott manage the Columbia Police Department. Specifically, the story looked at neighborhoods who don’t feel the Columbia Police Department provides adequate protection, so they often call the sheriff instead. Some of you have asked why doesn’t the sheriff just [...]
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Public hearings on possible sheriff/police contract

Columbia City Council members have scheduled four public meetings throughout the city’s four council districts to discuss the possibility of Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott managing the Columbia Police Department. The meetings are: District 1: Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m. at the Eau Claire Print Building, 3907 Ensor Avenue. The meeting is in conjunction with the Eau [...]
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