Jerry for Sheriff

01/06/2026

The Hall County Sheriff's Office is currently facing a critical leadership crisis coupled with ongoing operational challenges that demand immediate attention and decisive action.

Restoring trust and uplifting morale will be my first priority. Some citizens have asked about my plans. I will start tohis morning with my operational vision and proactive mission.

Starting tomorrow, I will be sharing both my 180-Day Office Transition and a 4-Year Strategic Plan(s).

I will also share on Friday the envisioned Employee Relations and Specialized Training Initiative to better care for our staff and serve some of our most vulnerable in the community.

31/05/2026

26/05/2026

I believe in protecting taxpayers while ensuring the jail remains constitutional, fair, transparent, and focused on accountability.

Hall County taxpayers should not continue carrying the growing financial burden of housing convicted offenders without pursuing responsible cost-recovery measures and demanding fair reimbursement from the State of Georgia.

Currently, the average daily cost to house an inmate at the Hall County Jail and Correctional Institute ranges from approximately $45 to $60 per day depending on staffing, medical needs, security requirements, and operational expenses.

While the State of Georgia currently provides a subsidy of approximately $24 per day for sentenced inmates awaiting transfer increasing to $30 per day beginning on day 16 Hall County taxpayers are still left covering an estimated $20 to $40 per inmate, per day. That burden ultimately falls on hardworking citizens.

That must change!

My Plan

As Sheriff, I will pursue a fiscally responsible, legally sound, and transparent Pay-to-Stay and Booking Fee Accountability Program designed to reduce the financial burden on local taxpayers while preserving constitutional protections and ensuring fairness.

Pay-to-Stay Program

Under the proposal:

Convicted inmates serving sentences longer than 90 days may be assessed a capped housing fee of up to $25 per day.

No inmate would be denied medical care, food, legal access, or constitutional protections because of inability to pay. Failure to pay would never result in extended incarceration or unlawful punitive action.

The program is intended to create accountability for individuals who possess the financial means to contribute toward the cost of their incarceration instead of placing the entire burden on Hall County taxpayers.

Booking Fee Program

A one-time $50 administrative booking fee would be assessed upon conviction or guilty plea to help offset the costs associated with:

1. Arrest processing
2. Fingerprinting
3. Medical screening
4. Intake classification
5. Administrative handling
6. Records processing

Safeguards Include:

1. Indigent hardship exemptions
2. Payment plan options when appropriate

Holding the State Accountable

Hall County taxpayers should not indefinitely subsidize the State’s incarceration responsibilities.

I will aggressively demand at the state level for:

1. Full reimbursement of inmate housing costs
2. Faster inmate transfer timelines
3. Increased state funding support for local detention facilities
4. Relief for counties burdened by overcrowding and rising
correctional expenses

If the State expects Hall County to continue housing state inmates, then the State should pay the full and actual cost of incarceration.

Revenue Reinvestment Priorities

Any revenue generated through this program should remain dedicated to strengthening and improving detention services.

Funding Priorities Include:

1. Deputy recruitment and retention
2. Jail medical and mental health services
3. Technology and security upgrades
4. Training and officer safety initiatives

These funds will remain focused on improving public safety not expanding government bureaucracy.

This platform is about:

A. Protecting taxpayers
B. Promoting accountability
C. Strengthening jail operations
D. Demanding state responsibility

Hall County deserves a Sheriff’s Office that is tough, responsible, transparent, and committed to both public safety and fiscal accountability.

26/05/2026

RESTORING ORDER TO THE JAIL

The jail should NEVER be controlled by gangs, violence, drugs, intimidation, or chaos. It is time to restore discipline, accountability, and respect for the rule of law.

If elected Sheriff, we will run a SAFE, SECURE, and ACCOUNTABLE jail focused on protecting employees, protecting taxpayers, and restoring control.

✅ Zero tolerance on assaults on deputies, medical staff, or other
inmates and will be aggressively prosecuted.
✅ Zero tolerance for sexual contact between inmates
✅ Staff misconduct or inappropriate relationships will result in
immediate termination and prosecution
✅ Criminal behavior inside the jail will have consequences
✅ Aggressive searches, K-9 operations, mail screening, body
scanners, cell shakedowns, and intelligence-driven
investigations targeting drugs, weapons, and illegal activity.
✅ Mandatory PREA training for all employees
✅ Enhanced classification and criminal activity intelligence
✅ Increased jail deputy support and protection
✅ Tough inmate discipline policies
✅ Pay-to-Stay program for sentenced inmates with ability to pay
✅ Work programs, structure, and real accountability
✅ Better pay for Jail Deputies

Our deputies deserve leadership that backs them, protects them, and gives them the tools to safely do their jobs.

The jail is not meant to be comfortable. It is meant to maintain order, protect the public, and create accountability.

It’s time to restore discipline, integrity, and control.

24/05/2026

I know there are many important issues within the Sheriff’s Office, and since 2024, I have been openly sharing my platform, priorities, and plans online and through my website.

Ironically, my recent post regarding roadway clearance received the most attention even though it is not my highest priority. However, traffic crashes and roadway congestion remain a serious concern for Hall County commuters and absolutely deserve attention.

Unfortunately, I believe the image of a tow truck and the repeated use of the word “tow” caused some confusion, and many people understandably did not have the opportunity to read the full proposal in detail.

To be clear: I was never proposing or implement a full-service towing operation run by the Sheriff’s Office. That would not be practical, feasible, or cost-effective.

The actual concept is much simpler and focused entirely on public safety.

The proposal would involve modifying an existing fleet heavy-duty response truck with a discreet or hidden wheel-lift system similar to what many HERO-style traffic response programs use across the country.

The operator would only use the system for rapid emergency roadway clearance by moving disabled or crashed vehicles a very short distance essentially from an active travel lane to the shoulder or another safe location, typically less than 50 yards.

After that, a licensed towing company would still respond to handle the actual tow, recovery, transport, or storage if needed.

The primary mission of the unit would be:

• Rapid roadway clearance
• Reducing secondary crashes
• Improving traffic flow
• Increasing responder and citizen safety
• Assisting stranded motorists with fuel, tire changes, jump starts, and basic emergency roadside assistance not towing!

The hidden wheel-lift system would simply provide deputies the ability to quickly and safely remove disabled vehicles from dangerous travel lanes during emergencies.

Again, this program would NOT be used to tow stranded motorists away or replace private towing companies.

Additionally, the cost of a hidden wheel-lift system ranges approximately from $6,000 to $25,000 depending on the model and setup a far cry from the inaccurate claims of spending $110,000 on a dedicated tow truck.

This is about improving public safety, reducing dangerous roadway backups, and helping keep Hall County moving safely and efficiently.

24/05/2026

"The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves." Niccolò Machiavelli

23/05/2026

Auto Metal Direct

15/05/2026

It’s not easy for me to speak out while running for this office but I’m not just a candidate. I’m am also a citizen and what I’m witnessing right now is unacceptable.

So please let’s all stop pretending this is complicated. It’s not. This is about accountability plain and simple.

Yes, he needs help, yes he has had some accomplishment and yes people make mistakes. But not all mistakes, jobs or people are equal. The Sheriff is one of those jobs that demand a higher standard of accountability and integrity.

The office of the Sheriff carries immense authority, responsibility, and public trust. When that trust is broken at the top, it shouldn't get pushed aside or buried. It must be addressed. Immediately.

We all know that leadership is about judgment and when that judgment fails, so does the ability to lead. His refusal to step aside and the Governor's failure to remove him is not just concerning, it’s unacceptable.

Because I know the truth: if this were anyone else, they would have been terminated before the end of their shift. That’s the standard. That’s the policy.

But if that policy only applies to the rank and file, then it’s not policy it’s protection. The moment leadership starts protecting itself instead of enforcing the rules is the moment integrity is lost and right now, that’s exactly what's happening.

Let me clear, this isn’t about politics. It’s about right and wrong. It’s about whether we are going to hold everyone to the same standard or continue allowing those in power in our community to operate above it.

The badge is not a shield from accountability or integrity. It’s a promise of it and right now, that promise was and continues to be broken.

Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch​ has been suspended since March following his arrest on DUI and traffic charges.

10/05/2026

Tomorrow begins National Police Week 🇺🇸

In Hall County, we don’t just support law enforcement
we stand with them and with their families. Because every badge carries a sacrifice made at home.

We remember those who never made it back. We stand with the families who live with that loss.
We back the men and women still answering the call.

We respect the badge.
We respect the commitment.
We respect the sacrifice.

My family stands with our brave men and women in blue today and every day.

Back the Blue. 🇺🇸