Gaston County Sheriff's Office

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Gaston County Sheriff's Office

Official page of the Gaston County Sheriff's Office in Gastonia, North Carolina. If you have an emergency, please call 911.

Important: To report a crime or if you need immediate assistance, dial 911. Our non-emergency number is (704) 862-6681.
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The Gaston County Sheriff's Office welcomes you and your comments to its page. This is a moderated online discussions site, but please note that this page is not a public forum and is not monitored 24/7. The purpose of this site is to present matters of public interest to its residents, businesses, and visitors. The Gaston County Sheriff's Office is responsible for ensuring that its social media conform to applicable law and Office rules and guidelines. The Gaston County Sheriff's Office reserves the right to immediately remove without advance warning any content, including offensive content such as, but not limited to, defamatory material, po*******hy, obscenities, profanity, personal attacks, and/or material that violates the Office's EEO and/or anti-harassment policies. The Gaston County Sheriff's Office also reserves the right to remove comments that are spam or include links to other sites, advocate illegal activity, promote particular services, products or political organizations, infringe copyrights or trademarks; or use personally identifiable medical information. The comments expressed on this site do not reflect the opinions and positions of the Gaston County Sheriff's Office government or its deputies and employees. If you have any questions concerning the operation of this page, please contact us at 704-869-6800.

09/12/2026

Today, on National Police Woman Day, the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office proudly recognizes the women who serve our community with courage, compassion and integrity.

Their contributions strengthen our profession and make a lasting difference in the lives of the people they serve. From deputies and detention officers to communications personnel and leaders throughout law enforcement, women continue to answer the call with professionalism and purpose.

We thank the women of the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office and women serving in law enforcement across our nation for their dedication, sacrifice and commitment to public service.

09/11/2026

Twenty-five years ago, America was attacked, but the American spirit did not break.

In the face of terror, courage answered. First responders rushed into danger. Strangers helped one another. Communities stood shoulder to shoulder, and the Stars and Stripes became a symbol of our grief, our strength, and our resolve.

Today, the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office remembers every innocent life taken, every hero who made the ultimate sacrifice, and every family forever changed by September 11, 2001.

We remain proud to serve under the same flag that united our nation during one of its darkest hours.

May God bless the fallen, comfort their families, protect those who serve, and continue to bless the United States of America.

We remember. We honor. We will never forget. 🇺🇸

09/07/2026

Labor Day gives us an opportunity to recognize the working men and women whose dedication, skill and service have helped build our communities and continue to move them forward.

Across Gaston County, people report to work each day to teach our children, care for our families, build our homes and businesses, maintain our roads, produce the goods we depend on and provide the services that keep our community safe and strong. Their work often takes place quietly, but its impact can be seen throughout our county.

We also recognize those who are working today, including first responders, healthcare professionals, public safety personnel and others whose responsibilities continue through weekends and holidays.

To every worker who contributes to the strength and well-being of Gaston County, thank you for the role you play in our community.

Sheriff Chad Hawkins and the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office wish you and your family a safe and happy Labor Day.

09/03/2026

In Honor of K9 Chief | Rest Easy, Good Boy

The Gaston County Sheriff’s Office mourns the loss of retired K9 Chief, a 10-year-old German Shepherd who recently passed away following health-related issues. Chief joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2019 as an Explosive Detection K9 and served alongside his handler and partner, Deputy Chuck Costner.

Much of Chief’s work happened quietly, before the public arrived and often without anyone knowing he had been there. He conducted bomb sweeps at schools, parades, community gatherings and other large events throughout Gaston County. He also helped protect visitors at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Carolina Panthers stadium events.

Chief’s service extended beyond explosive detection. He helped search for missing children and assisted officers searching for suspects. Whatever the assignment, Chief went where his partner needed him and performed his duty faithfully.

Chief retired in 2025 and spent his remaining time at home with Chuck, the partner who had stood beside him throughout his career. Chief was a protector, a partner and a member of our Sheriff’s Office family. We are grateful for his years of service, and we extend our condolences to Chuck, the K9 Unit and everyone who knew and loved him. His watch has ended, but his service will not be forgotten.

Rest easy, Chief. You were a good boy.

09/01/2026

Our DV Advocates had a great time at the Make’em Smile event this weekend in Gastonia’s FUSE District!

Domestic Violence Advocates support survivors by providing crisis intervention, safety planning, and connect them to essential resources like emergency housing and legal aid as well as additional community resources.

08/31/2026

The Gaston County Sheriff’s Office joins law enforcement agencies across the Carolinas in mourning the death of Columbia Police Officer Christopher DeLong, who was killed in the line of duty Saturday while responding to a call for service.

Officer DeLong was 29 years old and had served with the Columbia Police Department for two years. He leaves behind a wife, two young children, fellow officers and a community forever affected by his loss.

Officer David Dymock was wounded in the shooting. We are grateful that he is recovering, and we pray for his continued healing in the days ahead.

We extend our deepest condolences to Officer DeLong’s family and everyone at the . The Gaston County Sheriff’s Office stands with you during this time of grief, and we will remember Officer DeLong’s service, courage and sacrifice. 🖤💙🖤

08/29/2026

Today was a great day at the Make ’Em Smile event in Gastonia’s FUSE District!

Members of our Project Lifesaver Search and Rescue Team demonstrated how specialized tracking equipment helps locate enrolled individuals who may wander or become lost.

During a search, the team can also call upon added resources, including our Drone Team and Duncan, our non-apprehension K-9. When a vulnerable person goes missing, every minute matters. Our team trains in realistic conditions so they are ready when a family needs help.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to meet the team, see the equipment in action, and learn more about Project Lifesaver.

Serving the lost. Protecting the vulnerable. Supporting our community.

Hope begins the moment someone starts searching.

08/15/2026

PROJECT LIFESAVER SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM

Recently, members of the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver Search and Rescue Team joined the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office for specialized rescue training.
The Gaston County Sheriff’s Office is the only law enforcement agency in Gaston County designated as a Project Lifesaver agency. That designation comes with a responsibility that extends well beyond having tracking equipment. It requires trained personnel who can locate an individual who has wandered, and who are prepared to reach and safely recover that person wherever the search may lead.

Project Lifesaver is an international public-safety program developed to help protect children and adults with cognitive conditions such as autism, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other conditions that can cause someone to wander from a caregiver or safe environment. Individuals enrolled in the program wear a small transmitter that emits an individualized radio-frequency signal. If that person goes missing, specially trained personnel can use Project Lifesaver equipment and search techniques to track that signal and locate them. That’s where training the recent training becomes important.

Deputies worked on knot tying, elevated rescue techniques, team coordination and technical rescue skills before putting those skills to work in a realistic scenario. The exercise simulated a Project Lifesaver client who had wandered and was tracked to a remote gorge. Search teams first had to locate the individual and then safely reach and recover them from difficult terrain.

Project Lifesaver combines locating technology with specialized search-and-rescue methods and training for first responders. The Gaston County Sheriff’s Office is building its Search and Rescue Team around that same concept, but locating someone is only part of the mission. Deputies also need the training, equipment and teamwork to safely bring that person home.

Learn more about Project Lifesaver and how the program helps public-safety agencies protect people at risk:
Project Lifesaver International
Projectlifesaver.org

08/07/2026

Congratulations to our most recent group of DOCC (Detention Officer Certification Course) graduates! Your hard work has paid off! Thank you for all you do!

Deputy A. Hawkins
Officer M. Clemmons
Officer N. Linkous
Officer C. Cortez
Officer R. James
Officer J. Dorril
Deputy J. Workman
Officer J. Dennard

08/06/2026

🚨🚨 SCAM ALERT 🚨🚨

These scammers are relentless! 😑 This time they are using the name Deputy Nathan Bryson.

They are calling Gaston County Citizens claiming to be Deputy Bryson from the “Warrants and Citation Division”. They will leave a message asking you by name to call back.

STOP ✋🛑 Don’t fall for it!

Remember!

👉The Sheriff’s Office will NEVER ask you for money or bitcoin.

👉 We do not notify you of warrants over the phone.

Address

425 Drive Martin Luther King Jr Way
Gastonia, NC
28052

Telephone

+17048696800

Website

http://www.gastoncountysheriffsoffice.com/

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