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…