Sheriff Leon Lott instructs the Criminal Justice Class at Blythewood High School. The Richland County Sheriff's Department has partnered with Blythewood High School's Criminal Justice Program. Deputies will be teaching the students practical law enforcement skills every Friday until the end of the semester. Sheriff Leon Lott taught the first law enforcement class January 29.

Blythewood High School Principal Keith Price stated, “Blythewood High School is ecstatic about this opportunity to partner with Richland County Sheriff ’s Department. At Blythewood High School, our faculty focuses on the three R’s — Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships. What better way to increase the relevance of a curriculum than to bring the ‘real world’ into the classroom.

Sheriff Lott has made that possible for our students through his commitment and partnership. Thanks to this relationship, hundreds of students in our law enforcement program will be able to have first–hand experience of what it’s like to work in many different positions within Law Enforcement. That .... is Relevance at its finest.”

Lott states that this new partnership with Blythewood High School gives opportunity to teach, mold, guide, and encourage children to be great leaders and productive citizens. Sheriff Lott adds this will give law enforcement an opportunity to build a relationship with future leaders of mutual respect and understanding.