GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) confirmed to media this week that Sheriff Gerald Couch is taking time away from the office to address a health issue. During his absence, Chief Deputy Kevin Head will manage daily operations. Head is a veteran of the agency with 38 years of law enforcement experience.
The agency released a social media statement saying, “The men and women of the agency thank you for your continued support.”
Tenure and election results
Couch has served as Sheriff since January 2013. His administration has focused on professionalizing the office and on updating infrastructure to keep pace with the region’s population growth. In November 2024, Couch secured a fourth consecutive four-year term.
Election data shows he received strong support in the general election against Democratic challenger Jerry Ramos. Couch received 74,258 votes, accounting for 74.31% of ballots cast. Ramos received 25,667 votes.
Infrastructure and modernization
During his 12 years in office, Couch oversaw capital projects aimed at decentralizing command. A key development was the acquisition of the South Hall Precinct in Braselton. The agency purchased the 10,000-square-foot facility for $700,000 using Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds. This was significantly lower than the property’s $1.2 million list price. The precinct houses over 40 employees, including patrol officers and detectives, to reduce response times in the southern part of the county.
In 2014, the Sheriff’s Office opened a courtroom inside the Hall County Jail. This allowed judges to handle probation revocations and pleas on-site, eliminating the need to transport inmates to the main courthouse.
Crime statistics and safety data
The administration has used data to track performance relative to peer counties. Data from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) for 2017 provide a snapshot of crime rates at the midpoint of Couch’s tenure.
- Hall County: 267 violent crimes
- Augusta-Richmond County: 872 violent crimes
- Bibb County: 924 violent crimes
While violent crime rates were lower than those of some peer counties, Hall County reported higher burglary rates than neighboring suburban areas, such as Forsyth County (371 burglaries in Hall versus 272 in Forsyth).
Community engagement
The Sheriff’s Office has maintained its status as a State Certified Agency through the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, a designation held by approximately 15% of Georgia agencies.
To increase transparency, the office launched the “Sheriff to Citizen” web portal. This tool allows residents to view crime mapping, real-time inmate lists, and file non-emergency reports online. The agency also transitioned from D.A.R.E. models to the ADVANCE Camp, a summer program focused on youth leadership.
As of the social media post regarding Couch “taking time away from the office,” there have been no updates on his condition or expected return.
