Greg Hadley
The State
RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. — As the number of patients with COVID-19 in South Carolina continues to rise, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department plans to increase its community presence, not cut back.
Sheriff Leon Lott, speaking at a press conference Tuesday about Richland County’s overall response to the spread of the coronavirus, said the department will take deputies from schools and courts, which have been closed by order of Governor Henry McMaster, and re-deploy them on the streets. In a department of 800 deputies, that amounts to roughly 100 additional officers added, Lott said.
“The Sheriff’s Department will be fully operational. In fact, you’re gonna see more sheriff’s deputies out here than you ever see,” Lott said. “The schools have closed, our school resource officers are available. Our courts are closed, so those deputies are going to be available. Our special deputies, our reserve deputies, everybody that we can, is coming in. We’re going to work. We’re gonna make sure that our citizens feel safe. We’re not gonna allow criminals to take advantage of this situation and crisis that we’ve got going on in our community.”
Specifically, Lott said there have already been reports of scammers trying to exploit the elderly, who are most vulnerable to the virus, throughout the county. Some of the scams are done by phone, he said.
“We know that people are going to try to take advantage of this situation. We have to stop it,” Lott said. “And to do that, we got to make sure that our seniors are taken care of. Our Project Hope program is out there visiting them, our school resource officers are visiting them, we’re talking to them on the phone, we’re making sure that they understand that they get these phone calls, just hang up or call us.”
The first Richland County coronavirus case was confirmed by health officials on Tuesday, though at least two dozen more cases have been collectively reported in neighboring Kershaw and Lexington counties. In the event of a local outbreak, Lott said he is coordinating with Columbia Police Chief William Holbrook daily to address any situation.
While the sheriff’s department will continue uninterrupted, county services will be impacted as County Council Chair Paul Livingston signed an emergency disaster declaration on Tuesday. County Administrator Leonardo Brown said the county’s emergency medical services may be delayed in response times during peak hours, and in certain cases, EMS workers may take extra time to enter buildings while putting on protective gear.
Other services will be limited to reduce physical contact, and people will be encouraged to go online or call on the phone to avoid going to government buildings. Water and sewer terminations for non-payment will be suspended indefinitely, as well as in-person water and sewer tap sales. Public works, waste and recycling services will continue uninterrupted.
In addition, County Council Vice Chair Dalhi Myers emphasized that while the county’s park buildings will be closed, the parks themselves will be available to people who want to get outside, as long as they practice social distancing.
“If you are experiencing cabin fever, and you’re in need of fresh air and a bit of exercise, the parks are closed in terms of use of the buildings, but we have beautiful parks, and guess what? They’re all outdoors,” Myers said. “And so, for the most part, we’re not having any gatherings at these parks, and if you drive there and there’s no one there but you or there are only two other cars, get out and take a walk and take your kids and let them run for a long time, and then go back home and go to sleep. We’re encouraging people to recreate, but not in groups.”