Richland County sheriff's department plans 250-pound bench press challenge

By AI, Created 4:41 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott’s department in South Carolina will host a six-day 250-pound bench press challenge from June 28 to July 3 to mark America’s 250th birthday. The event is open to deputies, employees and the public, with verified lifts recorded for a post-event list and a media event set for July 2 in Columbia.

Why it matters: - The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is using a fitness challenge to mark America’s 250th birthday and pull in both law enforcement and the broader strength community. - The event gives participants a public benchmark for strength and a chance to be listed in post-event coverage if their lifts are verified. - The timing links the challenge to several July 4-weekend commemorations in South Carolina.

What happened: - The Richland County Sheriff’s Department in South Carolina will host a 250-pound bench press challenge from June 28 through July 3. - The challenge is open to RCSD deputies and employees, plus friends of RCSD, powerlifters, recreational weightlifters and strength trainers outside the department. - Participants must complete at least one verified bench press of 250 pounds. - Multiple repetitions are encouraged, and RCSD will document the participant’s age and rep count for a final bench press champions list. - The department will hold its official media event on July 2 from noon to 2 p.m. at Richland 1 CrossFit, 201 Columbia Mall Blvd, Columbia, S.C. 29223.

The details: - All lifts must be completed and verified at any Midlands-area One Life Fitness Center or at the R1CrossFit gym during R1CF hours, or on the scheduled July 2 media date. - Participants must report their lifts to RCSD’s public information team and have the lifts officially verified to be included in post-event media. - Names, ages and reps will be listed for successful participants after the event. - Sheriff Leon Lott said the department saw the event as a fun way to involve deputies who already lift competitively or recreationally, and the open invitation grew after interest from the wider fitness community. - Master Deputy Colin Davis, a Special Response Team operator, said he was excited to take on the challenge for America’s 250th anniversary. - One Life Fitness GM Brandon Mohtassem said the challenge is beneficial to the fitness community and highlights the work of athletes who can bench 250 pounds. - The Manheim Township Police Department in Lancaster, Pennsylvania is also hosting a 250 bench press event on Saturday, June 27. - June 28 is Carolina Day, which marks the 250th anniversary of the battle of Sullivan’s Island, when South Carolina became known as the Palmetto State. - July 3 is the eve of Independence Day and the annual Ryan Rawl Memorial Workout on the South Carolina State House grounds on the morning of July 4.

Between the lines: - RCSD is framing the challenge as both a community event and a morale boost for deputies. - The broader rollout suggests law enforcement agencies are using America’s 250th anniversary as a hook for public engagement and physical-fitness branding. - The verification rules matter because the challenge is designed to produce a credible, measurable leaderboard rather than a casual gym promotion.

What’s next: - RCSD says more details will follow closer to June 28. - Participants who want to make the final list will need to complete and verify their lifts during the event window. - The July 2 media event will serve as the main public showcase for the challenge.

The bottom line: - Richland County Sheriff’s Department is turning America’s 250th birthday into a six-day strength challenge, with verified 250-pound bench presses at the center of the event.