Read our full Q&As with Richland County sheriff candidates Leon Lott, Jim Walker

McClatchy’s South Carolina opinion team interviewed both candidates in the Nov. 5 Richland County sheriff’s election between Democratic seven-term incumbent Sheriff Leon Lott and Republican Jim Walker, who retired from the department as a sergeant in 2015. Our full Q&As are below.

Both were emailed six questions and given 250 words for each answer as part of our endorsement process . We are publishing interviews edited for accuracy, clarity and style before we publish our endorsement so readers can assess the candidates on their own. Expect all of our endorsements the week of Oct. 20.

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Sheriff Leon Lott

Q: What are your top three priorities and why?

A: My top three priorities are the same: reducing gun violence. We are losing a generation of young people to gun violence. While some believe this is a law enforcement issue, it is actually a community problem and should be addressed as such. Gun violence is not unique to Richland County. However, we can reduce this violence by having all components of our community working together.

Q: How would you reduce crime countywide, and what types of crime would you focus on?

A: Reducing crime requires proactive programs that prevent crime and effective enforcement when crimes occur. Education is the key to our success in addressing all crimes. We educate young people about making good decisions about gangs, drugs and violence, with 107 school resource officers in all of our schools. We develop crime watch groups through our Community Action Team deputies. And we teach our seniors about scams through our Project Helping Our Precious Elderly (HOPE). Building a mutual respectful relationship with the diverse communities that make Richland County a special place to live has been our cornerstone for 28 years.

Q: What is your specific plan to reduce caller response times?

A: Response time is dictated by the number of deputies available to respond to a 911 call. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is fully staffed with patrol deputies and specialized units. This allows us to quickly respond to all calls from our rural areas to the urban city. By maintaining a full staff, response times will continue to be at the quick level that currently exists.

Q: How would you improve working conditions, training and morale for deputies?

A: My mission as the sheriff has been to provide all the deputies and civilian employees with the best equipment, training and support. Every deputy and employee is treated as one of my children. My job is to take care of them physically and mentally. I have to be able to look into my soul every day and say I have done all I can to protect my children. Our training division is second to none, and we do not believe in minimum standards. Our mission is to train to standards of excellence.

Our culture of caring and being the best has resulted in no vacancies and a waiting list of applicants processed and waiting for a job. It is not always about money that retains or recruits a qualified person to be part of the RCSD family. Showing that you care and not just saying it produces good morale and a peace officer dedicated to serving our community.

We do not give signing bonuses for new employees. That is an insult to a loyal deputy. Nor do we have a recruiting unit. Every deputy and employee is a recruiter by being in the community and building the reputation and culture we have. While other agencies struggle to hire, we don’t. That speaks volumes about morale, training and working conditions.

Q: Should the sheriff oversee county jails, where problems persist? Why or why not?

A: Sheriffs maintain detention centers where citizens and the governing agency have given them that authority. In Richland County, the detention center is managed by a detention center director and the county administrator. In regards to the current situation, the offer was made to the County Council and the administrator for the sheriff to lead the detention center two years ago. County Council made the decision to “go in another direction.” I respect their decision and have provided assistance when requested.

Q: Why should voters choose you over your opponent in this election?

A: For 28 years, I have had the honor to be the sheriff of ALL citizens of Richland County. GOD has blessed me with a strong body and mind, which I have dedicated to the citizens of Richland County since 1975. While I have been fortunate to have received many recognitions, including the national sheriff of the year in 2021 and South Carolina sheriff of the year twice, none is as rewarding as being called by citizens, “You are my sheriff.” As the commander of the South Carolina State Guard, with the rank of Major General, I combine my law enforcement experience with my military experience. There is a stanza in a song we sing at church that describes my campaign to continue as your sheriff. It is “may the work I’ve done speak for me.”

Jim Walker

Q: What are your top three priorities and why?

A: The first of my top three priorities is the forward fight against gun violence. The reason why that is No. 1 on my list is that it is the biggest threat to the safety and liberties of our citizens and communities because we are losing far too many lives of our youth, young adults and older citizens and because we have too many shootings and not enough research and education.

The second of my top three list is the fight against domestic violence and hate crimes; we don’t have a law on the books. These priorities go hand in hand because these citizens need strong advocates to help fight for and protect their lives and liberties and to feel safe and secure in their homes and on the streets.

The third and final priority is total transparency, starting with myself as the sheriff and with the whole department with any significant incidents involving deputies as soon as legally possible; this includes any incidents where any deputies need to be investigated. This is important because there isn’t enough transparency from the people in charge, except when their jobs are at stake. As the sheriff, I would want the citizens to know that under my tenure, they can be assured that we are honest and unbiased.

Q: How would you reduce crime countywide, and what types of crime would you focus on?

A: The first thing that would happen is that we would take an intense look at the crime statistics throughout the county. Then, we would approach the issue by conducting a countywide research analysis of all the different crimes. While doing so, we add in the factor of increasing the workforce, which is done by working closely with the County Council and keeping them in the loop with the statistics and the importance of rebuilding our workforce. Doing the research will help us develop the proper strategy to reduce crime countywide. The process above would allow us to focus on several different crimes, such as burglaries, car thefts and break-ins, to name a few, because it is too difficult to focus on one particular crime. However, focusing on these groups of crimes could reduce the number of illegal firearms on the streets. Also, using this type of approach to dealing with crime would possibly allow the opportunity to concentrate on fighting drug crime in our communities.

Q: What is your specific plan to reduce caller response times?

A: To reduce police caller response times, we plan to implement several measures :

1.) Implement advanced dispatching technologies to optimize the allocation of resources and reduce response times. 2.) Increase the number of patrol units in high-traffic areas to ensure quicker response to emergency calls. 3.) Provide additional training to dispatchers and operators to streamline the process of handling and prioritizing emergency calls. 4.) Analyze data to identify patterns and optimize patrol routes for faster emergency response. 5.) Collaborate with local community groups to enhance communication and cooperation, which can help resolve problems faster.

By implementing these measures, we aim to improve police caller response times and ensure the safety and security of our community.

Q: How would you improve deputies’ working conditions, training, and morale?

A: To improve department working conditions could be as simple as letting deputies feel that their voice counts by soliciting their opinions and including those opinions while enhancing the training program and morale for deputies. Several measures can be taken.

Training: Regular, ongoing training programs are crucial to strengthening deputies’ communication, conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques and skills. This continuous learning can instill a sense of competence and readiness in deputies, making them more effective in handling challenging situations while minimizing the use of force.

Mental health support: Providing access to mental health resources, counseling and support services is crucial to caring for our deputies. This support can help them cope with job-related stress and trauma, improving their mental well-being and building confidence and morale among department personnel.

Community engagement: Foster positive relationships between deputies and the community through outreach programs, community policing initiatives and open dialogues, as well as frequently participating in community events. This helps build mutual trust and support, leading to a more positive work environment for deputies.

Equipment and facilities: Ensuring deputies have access to adequate equipment, safe working spaces and resources is necessary for them to perform their duties effectively.

Leadership and support: Developing strong leadership within the department means leadership that understands guidance, mentoring deputies and supporting deputies with challenging situations such as family, internal job or harassment.

By addressing these areas, the department can work towards creating a healthier and more supportive work environment for deputies, ultimately improving their working conditions, training and morale.

Q: Should the sheriff oversee county jails where problems persist? Why? or why not?

A: Yes, the sheriff’s office should oversee the county jail, mainly due to the problems that persist, such as in the cases of the frequency of deaths and the influx of illegal drugs and contraband that are being allowed into the jail. There also isn’t any accountability from the contractor staff. The sheriff’s office should have the jail under its authority because a lot of the systemic issues would be addressed by a strong oversight authority, ensuring complete transparency within all the legal parameters. By being the sheriff and having control of the jail, we would be able to better respond to emergencies and security breaches, investigate crimes that occurred in prison faster, and have the necessary law enforcement expertise and resources to address issues within the jails more effectively. Also, the sheriff’s office would have the authority, resources and experience to address and correct problems within the prison. The sheriff’s oversight can help ensure appropriate protocols are followed, staff are adequately trained, and necessary reforms are implemented to improve the overall functioning and safety of the county jail.

Q: Why should voters choose you over your opponent in this election?

A: Voters should choose me because my views and concerns align with those of the voters. I am also willing to deliver results and am committed to addressing the needs of our communities. My vision for the future is to make our county and citizens safe by working hard to reduce crimes. It is clear and concise, with plans to rebuild the voters’ trust and regain their voices in the laws and policies as well as improve the education of our citizens on gun violence because I can also work across party lines to get things done and always remain impartial. The voters can know and believe that my dedication is to serve them and make a positive difference in their security, safety and lives. Also, they should choose me because I guarantee that I will always be honest, trustworthy, available and transparent as long as I am in that office.