Gaston County Sheriff's Office

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.

07/26/2026

The Gaston County Sheriff’s Office had a great time Saturday celebrating Walker E. Reid lll.

Image and Gaston Highland Festival Foundation honored the legacy of Walker E. Reid III with live music at the Walker E. Reid III Park. Family, friends, and community came out to celebrate!

07/10/2026

Human trafficking isn't just an issue that happens in faraway places; it operates right here in our own backyards, hiding in plain sight.

Sheriff Chad Hawkins and the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office is committed to protecting the vulnerable and stopping human trafficking.

We would also like to thank Hope United for empowering survivors, restoring hope and providing victim services.

07/07/2026

The Gaston County Sheriff’s Office sends our deepest condolences to .county.ems following the tragic passing of Paramedic Ashley Moore. Prayer and sympathies to Ms. Moore’s family and friends as they navigate these hard times. We stand united with our EMS partners today. 🖤🚑

https://wisenewsnetwork.com/stories/cleveland-county-ems-mourns-loss-of-paramedic-ashley-moore-after-highway-74-collision,5224?fbclid=IwdGRjcAS6WNJwZG9mA2ZkaWQWUKEXVTCZhdJLylZlJJYJEoSyTf4PB2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4eQOj5-quCoDjN06JWwE62PjPUhAMmoj1OkQUzYps3GhoC-E1t2z4uuC7lFw_aem_y5LrgIIl-qRdGd-J5zJicA

Cleveland County, NC (WNN) - On Monday, July 6, 2026, Paramedic Ashley Moore lost her life while treating a patient in an ambulance on Highway 74.

07/06/2026

Congratulations 🎉 to our most recent DOCC (Detention Officer Certification Course) graduates! 🎓 A special congratulations is in order for Officer McDonald who was awarded highest cumulative class average as well as highest state exam score and for Officer N. Lara who was awarded Overall most physically fit.

Deputy J. Richardson
Officer C. McDonald
Officer N. Lara
Officer T. Roulhac
Officer C. Hill

07/04/2026

While today we celebrate Americas birthday we also remember Deputy Phillip Maxwell.

Deputy Maxwell served both the citizens of Gaston County and the American people as he spent four years in the United States Army as well as nine additional years in the Army Reserves.

He is truly missed by our GCSO employees as well as the citizens of Gaston County he served.