The deputies in the Richland County Sheriff's Department's Community Action Team (a.k.a. CAT) will now be driving new muscle cars. Sheriff Leon Lott pulled the cover off of 17 new Ford Mustang GTs with agency markings July 1. The department said it hopes the flashy vehicles will help start conversations and build relationships with the community at large.
South Carolina Sheriff Buys 17 Mustang GTs for Community Relations Team
"We’re not picking a car just because it’s a cool car to drive, but cool cars attract people to come and build a relationship with us," said Sheriff Leon Lott.

The Richland County (South Carolina) Sheriff's Department's Community Action Team is now driving new Mustang GTs.
Richland County SD/Facebook
"We’re not picking a car just because it’s a cool car to drive, but cool cars attract people to come and build a relationship with us," Lott told The State. "These are hot cars. Kids and adults see them and like them, and then come up to the car and start talking to the deputy."
While the cars have law enforcement markings, they don’t feature the standard light bar of a patrol car, Road and Track reports.
The department has a total of 15 officers working in the CAT unit, each with their own respective neighborhood in Richland County — which encompasses Columbia, S.C. and much of its surrounding areas.
More Patrol

Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty
What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.
Read More →
K-9s Play a Critical Role in Finding Missing Persons
Real-world scenarios show that a tracking canine can detect and follow a human track several hours after it was made.
Read More →
Garmont Tactical’s LE Boot Lineup
In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.
Read More →
Avon Protection Launches EXOSKIN-S2 High-Performance CBRN Protective Suit
With the commercial availability of Avon Protection’s EXOSKIN-S2, users now have increased options for their protective suit requirements across the spectrum of CBRN threat environments.
Read More →
Versaterm Acquires Aloft to Unlock a New Era of Drones for Public Safety
Versaterm has acquired Aloft, an FAA-approved Unmanned Service Supplier (USS) that specializes in real-time airspace intelligence and flight authorizations.
Read More →
Versaterm Launches Innovation Summit for Public Safety Drone Operations
The two-day DroneSense Innovation Summit by Versaterm will bring together public safety and industry experts to define best practices for scaling drone operations.
Read More →
What Makes a Good LE Boot?
Learn what makes a boot good for police officers as POLICE visits with Kyle Ferdyn, of Garmont Tactical, who explains the features of boots and why each is needed in an LE boot.
Read More →
Folds of Honor Opens Scholarship Application for Children and Spouses of Fallen or Disabled Service Members and First Responders
The application period for the Folds of Honor scholarship program is now open through the end of March. Scholarships support students from early education through postsecondary studies, easing the financial burden for families who have given so much in service to others.
Read More →
Team Wendy Now on GovX: Faster Verification and Discount Access for Eligible Professionals
With GovX verification now integrated directly into the Team Wendy checkout experience, eligible customers can confirm their status in just a few clicks and have the discount applied automatically.
Read More →
5.11 Debuts 2026 Footwear & Apparel at SHOT Show
5.11 showcased new apparel and footwear products during SHOT Show 2026, including new color options for the A/T Boa Lite Mid Boot and the Founder’s Jacket.
Read More →