Lt. Col Taylor and Sheriff Leon Lott shake hands after signing the Memorandum of Understanding. The Fort Jackson Directorate of Emergency Services and the Richland County Sheriff 's Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding August 11 at the post's Directorate of Emergency Services building.

The memorandum strengthens the ties between the two agencies and formalizes the Sheriff's Department's commitment to Fort Jackson in helping combat high- risk criminal events should they exceed the post's Special Reaction Team's capabilities. While RCSD would be in a supporting role on the installation, the availability of additional assets and capabilities to the commander are invaluable when faced with high- risk criminal activities.

In deciding to enter into this MOU Sheriff Leon Lott said, "Fort Jackson is a very important part of the community. With us working together like we are doing now by signing this Memorandum of Understanding, we are strengthening and protecting the citizens of Richland County as well as our Soldiers, who are essential to the public safety of our country."

The MOU also provides for joint training and exercises between the Richland County Sheriff 's Department and Fort Jackson's SRT. This training is invaluable to both teams as they share best practices and draw upon the specialties within each team improving their abilities to respond to incidents within their communities.